Over 60g of protein can be bad?

[Cristin 73]

At my 1 month check in with my surgeon yesterday, and I told them I was getting 60-80g of Protein a day, and to my surprise their reaction was shock.

I didn't think quick enough to ask them why, but they said that I really should just shoot for 60g. I thought it might have to do with the idea that more protein=more calories, but they said I shouldn't even be thinking about calories,

Does anybody know why they wouldn't want me eating more than 60g of protein?

[DonRodolfo 1,416]

At my 1 month check in with my surgeon yesterday, and I told them I was getting 60-80g of Protein a day, and to my surprise their reaction was shock.

I didn't think quick enough to ask them why, but they said that I really should just shoot for 60g. I thought it might have to do with the idea that more protein=more calories, but they said I shouldn't even be thinking about calories,

Does anybody know why they wouldn't want me eating more than 60g of Protein?

That's very strange - both my NUT and Dr.'s office said 60g-80g was the range for females!

[mokee 588]

Would be interested to hear what others have to say about this.

[Cristin 73]

I know, right?!? They actually told me initially that was my range too, so I'm really confused.

[tammy1970 20]

My doc said it is because too much starts eating muscle. Don't understand it exactly.

[Cristin 73]

My doc said it is because too much starts eating muscle. Don't understand it exactly.

I don't understand that either, I thought Protein helped you repair muscle tissue after workouts... It seems odd that too much Protein would lead to muscle breaking down.

But I'm no doctor.

[Cristin 73]

Has anybody heard something similar?

[DonRodolfo 1,416]

I don't understand that either, I thought Protein helped you repair muscle tissue after workouts... It seems odd that too much Protein would lead to muscle breaking down.

But I'm no doctor.

You're right - it does help repair muscle tissue. I don't believe too much protein breaks down muscle - if anything, excess protein is stored as fat as I understand it.

I, too, am no doctor so consult accordingly.

[Cristin 73]

Haha thank you

I'll have to make a note to ask. I'm one of those people that has a hard time following instructions without knowing why.

[giggles232000 56]

_{I was told to shoot for 60 or more they never said I could\ have to much protien I have always hear\d the more protien the better}

[Andi 78]

Per our post op instructions: the general rule is 60-75 grams of Protein per day. The maximum amount of protein will be 3-4oz per meal.

[Cristin 73]

Yep. That's very similar to mine. I just don't know why getting Protein on the higher end of that range is worrisome to them.

[DonRodolfo 1,416]

Someone posted this earlier this evening in another thread:

http://www.shape.com...h-protein-waste

Ask the Diet Doctor: Is Eating Too Much Protein a Waste?

You may have heard too much Protein is bad for your body, but chances are you’re not eating enough

Q: Is it true your body can only process so much protein at once?

A: No, it is not true. I have always found the idea that your body can only “use” a certain amount of protein funny, as what happens when you go over that number? Does it pass through your system undigested?

Protein and how much you need is a very misunderstood topic, most likely because we have traditionally looked at how much protein we need in our diets based on preventing a deficiency and not the optimal amount. If you are looking to ensure you get adequate levels of the essential amino acids, then you will need somewhere between 50 to 60 grams of protein each day. I know many nutrition professionals who believe taking in more than that is a waste.

But I’m going to bet that you are not reading SHAPE to help prevent nutritional deficiencies—you likely want to slim down, train harder, perform better, or all of the above. For this we need to look beyond deficiencies and look at what is optimal for building and rebuilding muscle. At its most basic level, for this to happen you need protein synthesis since protein is both the building blocks of muscle and the gas to ignite the process.

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Researchers from the University of Texas wanted to figure out how you could optimize that process and if the timing of your protein mattered. They had one group of volunteers eat a high-protein (90-gram) meal at the end of the day and another space out protein intake across the day (30 grams per meal). Those who ate protein at every meal yielded the greatest net increases in protein synthesis.

So 30 grams seems to be the right amount to max out protein synthesis, meaning that if you had 40 grams of protein in one sitting (as found in most Meal Replacement shake packets), you won’t see any more protein synthesis. But does that mean the extra 10 grams of protein goes to waste?

No, it just means it won’t be used to further increase protein synthesis. But protein is not a one-trick macronutrient—it can also be used for other things. If you eat more protein above your muscle-building needs, your body will just break down the protein and its components and use it for energy. There are two benefits to eating more protein such that some could be used this way.

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The first is the thermic effect of food. Protein is the most metabolically demanding micronutrient—some estimates show that it takes your body almost twice the calories to break down and use protein than it does carbohydrates.

Protein also elicits a different hormonal milieu than carbs, one more favorable to getting and staying lean. When you eat carbohydrates, the hormones insulin and glucagon are released. Insulin puts the brakes on fat release from fat cells and is used by your body to drive the amino acids from protein into your muscles. During this process, insulin also moves sugar (as you have a basal level of sugar in your bloodstream) into fat or muscle cells. This could result in low blood sugar (which can cause you to feel “off” or light-headed), so your body also releases glucagon, which has the primary job of taking stored sugar from your liver and moving it into your system so that you maintain even-keel blood sugar. Another bonus of glucagon is that it seems to also increase satiety, making your feel more full and satisfied. Glucagon may also stimulate your fat cells to release fat, but the details of this are still being figured out in humans.

RELATED: Now that you know what you need protein-wise, check out six ways your diet is messing with your metabolism so you can improve your eating—and your body.

While this may sound like academic musing about protein, it works out in real life as well. Weight-loss studies that include a higher-protein (about double the “prevent deficiency” recommendations) diet group show greater weight loss and better improvements in body composition. While there is a limit to the extent you can increase protein synthesis in one sitting, your body puts any extra protein to very good use.