Protein

More than 10,000 different proteins make you what you are. Protein is found throughout the body--in muscle, bone, skin, hair, and virtually every other body part or tissue.

Complete vs Incomplete Protein

There are 20 amino acids that are the building blocks for all protein. Your body creates eleven of them (non essential) and the remaining nine come from your diet (essential).

Complete protein sources contain all the amino acids needed to build new proteins. Animal protein sources (meat, fish, poultry, milk, cheese, and eggs) are usually complete. Gelatin is the only incomplete animal protein. Soybeans are the only plant protein considered to be a complete protein. [37]

Proteins lacking one or more essential amino acids are called incomplete proteins. Beans, grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables tend to be incomplete.

Incomplete proteins can be combined (by consuming different protein sources) to make complete protein. It was believed that these foods had to be eaten at the same time in order to be used by the body to build protein. Studies now show that your body can combine complementary proteins that are eaten within the same day. [38] Examples of combining incomplete proteins include: macaroni and cheese; yogurt with granola; peanut butter and toast.

You need a daily supply of amino acids to make protein because the body doesn't store amino acids like it does fats or carbohydrates. If we don't consume the protein in our diet, the body will use the only available source - your muscle tissue - to get what it needs. Less muscle tissue further contributes to a slowed metabolism, and reduced fat-burning.

Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for Protein

RDA of protein for women ages 19-70 is 46 grams per day. [39]
RDA of protein for men ages 19-70 is 56 grams per day. [39]

It has been estimated that Duodenal Switch patients' malabsorb 40% of their protein intake. As a result surgeons generally recommend a daily protein intake of 80-120 grams to their post-op patients. [41-43], [51]

Protein Content in Food

Protein Supplements

Myth or Fact:
30 grams of protein absorbed at a time?

According to Michelle from Vitalady.com

Protein in supplements doesn't involve all the acids and such that meats do, so it doesn't tax the kidneys and liver in the same way.

There was a study done at Penn State in the 80's, but I have failed to obtain a copy of it. The 30g consumed within 30 min every 3 hrs is what the reputable manufacturers say. Now, I adapted it to 30/30/2 hrs for me/us because our transit is so much faster.

The intestine has "fingers", villi. It only has so many fingers to grab nutrition. Period. You can run it by fast or you can run it by slow. But the analogy that was given to me was very visual. Picture one of those glass booths you see at fairs with $1 bills blowing around inside. You can step in and you can keep whatever you can grab in 1 minute. The concept is similar in that there are only so many fingers to grab whatever nutrition comes by in X amount of time.

You can do whatever you want, in the absence of that 1987 study, but it's your money, your potential for weight loss/muscle loss or gain and so ultimately your choice if you want to eat/drink 30g at once or 100g at once.

Bioavailability of Protein Types

whey blended products, BV 100-159
whey, BV 104
egg, BV 100
cow's milk, BV 91
egg white, BV 88
beef, BV 80
fish, BV 79
chicken, BV 77
casein, BV 77
soy, BV 74
potato, BV 71
rice, BV 59
wheat, BV 54
beans, BV 49
peanuts, BV 43

Post-DS we need to keep in mind that we don't absorb protein from food and well as we used to. Pre-digested (hydrolized) protein supplements (like whey) are more highly absorbed and help our bodies get the proper nutrients we need.

According to Michelle at Vitalady.com, make sure your protein powder or drink states that it is pre-digested or hydrolized. And the best kind of protein would be a whey blend protein. Second best would be a 100% whey protein. Isolates, though good for a quick acting pick-me-up, are not sufficient alone for post-op DS patients on-going maintenance requirements.

Protein Supplement Recommendations

When post-op Duodenal Switch patients were asked about their favorite protein shake here are the overwhelming reported top 3 and how the nominators make it.

Champion Nutrition
Pure Whey Stack
Chocolate
- I put 1.5 scoops in 4-5 oz water, shake well, and serve over ice
- I simply mix it with a fork with cold water and add ice.
- In a blender I mix 1 cup of milk or water, 1 heaping tsp of instant coffee, 2 scoops of protein powder, 4 ice cubes.
- I mix it with ice and water, or ice and soy milk in a magic bullet for a shake!
- 6-8 oz water, shaken.

Champion Nutrition
Pure Whey Stack
Banana Scream
- Milk, whole banana, ice = Milk Shake.
- I put 1.5 scoops of protein in 6oz Lactaid Milk, blend well in Magic Bullet, and serve over ice.
- 2 scoops powder, 2 c. crushed ice, 1 c. half & half - all whizzed up to milkshake consistency in my blender.

IDS
Multi-Pro Whey
Vanilla-Cinnamon
- Mix a slurry 1 1/2 scoops of protein powder in 4 oz of cool water and 2 oz of 1/2 & 1/2. Pour hot coffee into the slurry and stir.
- A "glop" of DaVinci sugar free caramel sauce + 8 oz water + ice, blended.
- 1/2 cup half & half, 1/2 cup Oregon Chai Tea (I use slightly sweet but there is also sugar free), 1 scoop IDS Cinnamon Vanilla. Heat half & half with Oregon Chai until luke warm. Stir in powder, heat in 20 second intervals until hot.

For Vitalady's Protein Comparison Chart:
Protein Comparison Chart

For Protein Supplements:
Visit Vitalady.com