I know this has been discussed before...

I know this has been asked before, but since we can drink directly before and after we drink a protein shake, how is the protein shake of any benefit if the goal is to have protein sit for as long as possible in our tummies? Won't the protein shake just wash right through?

Wondered the same thing

I wouldn't think tha****er is going to flush out protein. Our body uses the protein up immediately. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and healthy.

It is my understanding the liquid does not cause the pyloric valve to shut so the shake isn't really sitting in you stomach like dense protein will.  The valve closes when it senses dense protein and opens with liquids.  The absorption of the protein doesn't really occur in the stomach but in the intestines.  The reason not to drink in my understanding is to keep the dense protein in your stomach longer so you get the feeling of being full.  Frisco has a  great post on Pyloric valve 101 that has great information. 

Janet

I get it now. All protein absorption is done in the intestines and the benefit of solid protein sitting in our tummy is so we feel full longer, not about absorption of the protein. Thanks for explaining Janet.

In addition to the mechanical process of firm proteins sitting in our stomachs longer getting processed, biochemically protein provides more durable satisfaction so we don't get hungry again so quickly; however, it can take a relatively long time for the satiety signals to get to our brains to tell us to stop eating. Carbs are the opposite, with less durable satisfaction but quicker signals going to the brain (and fat fall somewhere in between.) So, ideally (for a normal person at least,) our meals should contain a blend of carbs, fats and protein to get the quick satiety signals along with more durable satiety. With our small stomachs, particularly early on when we may or may not feel like eating much at all, we generally follow the protein first rule in order to ensure that we get our minimum maintenance level of protein in for the day.

Strange that carbs tell the brain that the tummy is full faster than proteins do. Thanks for the info.

 Whatever satiety that's gotten from carbs is very short & you end up eating more carbs(calories) again, that's why the blend(for normal people) works, but most don't get the right blend., opting for a carb heavy meal which leads to weight gain. I guess it's possible to get signals from carbs to the brain faster than protein, but the full feeling from carbs?, I don't think so, best to get answers from a nutritionist/dr on that one.

I'm not buying into that either..... bunk

Carbs are a faster fuel available for your body and creates an inulin response which can create hunger in a short time.

As for satiety and duration of satiety, I guess calsleever doesn't eat chicken.

frisco

I think that the insulin response is part of it, and that's probably why the signals start getting to the brain sooner. Yes, by itself, pure carbs (and particularly simpler ones,) create a shock that is of short endurance and creates hunger again in a short time (one of the reasons that you get a bread basket shoved in front of you as soon as you sit down in a restaurant, and then left to wait a while before ordering - it stimulates sales of appetizers and larger entrees!

It salient point is that the carbs are a part of the meal so that signals can start their way to the brain while the proteins stew for a while in the stomach before they start digesting and sending their signals. This works fairly well for normal stomached people but may or may not work the same way with us - probably a big YMMV factor in there like many things. But it does suggest that for those who are farther out who may be having problems with getting full or satiety signals before getting overstuffed on the classic protein first rule (and aren't inclined to limit their portion ahead of time,)  that starting out with a small carb (like a wheat thin, not a plate of pasta!) might work to normalize these signals. It's something that is worth a try if one is having such problems.

This seems to be a corollary to Glycemic Index or Load, wherein we can handle high GI foods if they are eaten in combination with low GI foods, as the overall GI averages out for the meal. This means that if you want a high GI fruit, you can have it along with some low GI meat or cheese, (there's a reason why pineapple goes with ham!) but if you want to just have a piece of fruit, make it a low GI fruit like a grapefruit.