How does protein work?

[serbyte]

Im seriously trying to find out how protein works once injested, but I cant find shit on the internet.

Protein has 4 calories per gram, does your body use those calories, even if you are useing the protein to rebuild muscle?
And if so how does your body use those calories?

Protein is needed to get positive nitrogen balance, which is bennefitial to muscle growth. It also provides your body with amino acids. If taking Amino Acid suppliments, would you be able to do with less protein? Do Amino acids provide your body with the same effects of protien without the calories?

When taking in protein, like a shake or food, do you need to take in fat or carbs to prevent your protein from being used as energy and taking away from its mucle building propertys?

If anyone has a good article on protein or even on Macronutrients, please post.

 

[Mr.X]

Protein has 4 calories per gram, does your body use those calories, even if you are useing the protein to rebuild muscle?
yes, the body still uses the calories, even if it's to free proteins into muscle mass
And if so how does your body use those calories?
to convert what you eat into what the body needs...in simple terms, it takes the protein you ate and converts to muscle mass, or it takes the protein you eat and uses it for energy output by breaking it down into amino acids (take energy) in a process called gluconeogenisis. Even storage of protein or fat, takes energy

Protein is needed to get positive nitrogen balance, which is bennefitial to muscle growth. It also provides your body with amino acids. If taking Amino Acid suppliments, would you be able to do with less protein?
yes, you would be able to get away w/ taking in less protein - depending on your goals. In a bulking situation (well 'fed' state), you would benefit the most by taking in AA externally w/ regular protein intake; in a cutting sitution, the AAs would help preserve muscle in a catabolic environment where the body has a chance to use internal (muscle) proteins as fuel
Do Amino acids provide your body with the same effects of protien without the calories?
Protein is made up of Amino Acids, so technically if you take in enough amino acids it can compensate for protein intake - but I would highly suggest against it since it would be way too costly to replace even 1/2 protein in your diet w/ AAs

When taking in protein, like a shake or food, do you need to take in fat or carbs to prevent your protein from being used as energy and taking away from its mucle building propertys?
Not necessarily; in some cases you should be able to ingest protein (assuming not in a catabolic state) and it would be used to build muscle mass. However, in other cases the protein that is ingested, this is especially true for fast digesting -whey- proteins, will most likely be used for energy, i.e as explaned before through the process of gluconeogenisis. Overall, it's always a good idea to slow down digestion by adding fat or fiber (or both) into the equation of protein intake - unless post-workout.

Mr.X

 

[Millie]

Re: Re: How does protein work?

Overall, it's always a good idea to slow down digestion by adding fat or fiber (or both) into the equation of protein intake - unless post-workout.

Mr.X [/B]

Maybe I am getting anal about this, but would adding psyllium husks to my whey + UDO's shake interfere with the absorption of the EFA's?

 

[Mr.X]

Re: Re: Re: How does protein work?

Maybe I am getting anal about this, but would adding psyllium husks to my whey + UDO's shake interfere with the absorption of the EFA's?

I wouldn't interfere the absorption process, it would slow down the absorption and the AA release into the bloodstream.

Mr.X

 

[GoldenDelicious]

serbstyle you could surf a few biochemistry websites to get an idea, but as for the question 'how is protein used' well, holy crap would that take a long time to explain, since your body is protein based and fairly much everything about it involves using protein- from messaging pathways to making supportive tissue

that question is a lot bigger than i think you realise

cheers

 

[Millie]

Re: Re: Re: Re: How does protein work?

I wouldn't interfere the absorption process, it would slow down the absorption and the AA release into the bloodstream.

Mr.X

Thanks Mr.X! That's exactly what I was hoping to hear

 

[EL GAUCHO]

How is it that fibre like Psyllium husks are good for blocking the absorption of bad fats, yet they don't interfere with EFA's?
Surely the fibre would interfere with the absorption of all nutrients? Protein and carbs?
Or is it selective?

 

[Mr.X]

How is it that fibre like Psyllium husks are good for blocking the absorption of bad fats, yet they don't interfere with EFA's?
Surely the fibre would interfere with the absorption of all nutrients? Protein and carbs?
Or is it selective? I never heard of psyllium husk blocking absorption of bad fats, you might have misread something

Mr.X

 

[EL GAUCHO]

Damn! I'm getting all my facts wrong today!
I understood that p.husks aided fat loss by binding to dietary fat. So you expel more than you absorb?
Or does it just quicken the digestion process?

 

[Mr.X]

Damn! I'm getting all my facts wrong today!
I understood that p.husks aided fat loss by binding to dietary fat. So you expel more than you absorb?
Or does it just quicken the digestion process?

Fiber does not aid fat loss by binding to dietary fat, it helps digestion by allowing gastric emptying. It SLOWS the absorbtion process and increases rate of digestion.

Mr.X