health4life24
New member
Found an interesting article (written for those with diabetes though) that I think makes some excellent points about people who have issues digesting protein.
Full article link: restoreunity (dot) org/atkins_diet(dot)htm
Protein digestion problems have been getting progressively worse and I think it's what caused some of the adrenal problems I have been having lately. It's also taxing on the kidney's which can cause similar symptoms to adrenal fatigue. I have been trying to figure this puzzle out the last few months and think I have stumbled onto something that in theory makes sense. I had a steak for dinner tonight and it sent me reeling with all kinds of crazy symptoms. Took double the amount of betaine HCL & digestive enzymes that have helped minimize the symptoms somewhat.
The above article states some interesting things about protein digestion. For some of us, taking enzymes make not be enough if our kidney's & pancreas can't handle a protein overload.
Some points from the article:
-The following is from Optimum Sports Nutrition, written by one of the leading nutritional scientists the past three decades, Dr. Michael Colgan. "When excess protein food breaks down during digestion, it fills your blood with more than the amino acids that make it up. Excess amino acids are converted into non-toxic carbon dioxide and water plus highly toxic ammonia. Your body immediately protects itself by turning the ammonia into less toxic urea, which is then excreted by the kidneys. If you eat protein beyond their capacity to remove the toxic wastes, you overload the kidneys and poison your blood. Chronic elevated urea is literally a pain in the butt. Inflamed kidneys generate a lot of low back pain, and general feelings of malaise. And unless your levels are really high, you will come out clean on all the expensive tests your physician decrees."
-We advise, on this web site, low glycemic carbohydrates. We recommend not more than 100 grams a day of complex carbohydrates. We advise about equal amounts of carbohydrates and protein, but we recommend most of your additional protein be protein supplements, such as ion-exchange whey protein concentrate and soy powder. Check out the article, "Type I & II Diabetics Need Extra Protein," for more information.
-Dr. Bob advised 12 or more glasses of distilled water a day for diabetics. Diabetics need more water then people with normal metabolism, because they need to help dilute the urine to help process ammonia by the kidneys. The extra water will help decrease strain on the kidneys and help with hydration. One of the symptoms of diabetes is dehydration.
-Supplement BCAAs. Since diabetics lose 3-5 times more BCAA then those with normal metabolism, it seems an excellent idea to replace them. Once again from Dr. Michael Colgan, "Studies suggest that eating BCAA easily increases blood levels (page 163)." So BCAA supplementation may be considered sensible insurance for diabetics. Dr. Colgan recommends the supplement HMB for your BCAA. Whey protein powder also contains BCAAs. Dr. Bob recommended 1-2 grams of HMB, twice a day, for diabetics. He recommended HMB, with a meal that contained protein, 1-3 hours after a workout or walk, and one other time with a meal with protein. If you did not workout, then he advised HMB twice a day for diabetics.
-Dr. Bob advised diabetics use supplements that can scavenge ammonia, helping to keep ammonia levels lower. The supplements Dr. Bob recommended were a. KIC b. OKG. These two supplements are also recommended by Dr. Colgan to scavenge ammonia. Dr. Michael Colgan, "alpha-ketoglutarate acts in the body as an ammonia scavenger. Ornithine also acts as an ammonia scavenger. The combination of the two (OKG) is a potent way to reduce your ammonia burden (Page 377)." Furthermore, OKG spares muscles the need to break down their BCAAs in order to generate glutamine, an important energy fuel. The glutamine is generated when Alpha-Ketoglutarate combines with ammonia released during intense muscle activity. Also the ammonia scavenging property of AKG is doubly beneficial because excess free ammonia can be harmful. Dr. Colgan on ketoisocaproate, "Studies on patients who have been put into a high catabolic, high ammonia condition by surgery or disease, show that ketoisoaproate acts as a strong ammonia scavenger." Page 380)." So AKG can help produce glutamine and scavenge ammonia.
-Dr. Bob advised 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda (bicarbonate) mixed in liquid 45 minutes after you have started a meal. Proper digestion requires an alkaline environment in the small intestine. The stomach produces acid. When food enters the small intestine the acid from the stomach enters also. The bicarb neutralizes the acid. This can help digestive enzymes work properly (they cannot function optimally or may not function at all – when the small intestine is acidic, not alkaline).
Any thoughts on any of this? I know it's geared towards diabetics, but it presents some great ideas for some of us having protein metabolism problems. The ammonia scavenger supplements seem like an interesting idea. Also supplementing with BCAA's. Also said to get protein from whey or soy protein because it's easier on kidney's.
Full article link: restoreunity (dot) org/atkins_diet(dot)htm
Protein digestion problems have been getting progressively worse and I think it's what caused some of the adrenal problems I have been having lately. It's also taxing on the kidney's which can cause similar symptoms to adrenal fatigue. I have been trying to figure this puzzle out the last few months and think I have stumbled onto something that in theory makes sense. I had a steak for dinner tonight and it sent me reeling with all kinds of crazy symptoms. Took double the amount of betaine HCL & digestive enzymes that have helped minimize the symptoms somewhat.
The above article states some interesting things about protein digestion. For some of us, taking enzymes make not be enough if our kidney's & pancreas can't handle a protein overload.
Some points from the article:
-The following is from Optimum Sports Nutrition, written by one of the leading nutritional scientists the past three decades, Dr. Michael Colgan. "When excess protein food breaks down during digestion, it fills your blood with more than the amino acids that make it up. Excess amino acids are converted into non-toxic carbon dioxide and water plus highly toxic ammonia. Your body immediately protects itself by turning the ammonia into less toxic urea, which is then excreted by the kidneys. If you eat protein beyond their capacity to remove the toxic wastes, you overload the kidneys and poison your blood. Chronic elevated urea is literally a pain in the butt. Inflamed kidneys generate a lot of low back pain, and general feelings of malaise. And unless your levels are really high, you will come out clean on all the expensive tests your physician decrees."
-We advise, on this web site, low glycemic carbohydrates. We recommend not more than 100 grams a day of complex carbohydrates. We advise about equal amounts of carbohydrates and protein, but we recommend most of your additional protein be protein supplements, such as ion-exchange whey protein concentrate and soy powder. Check out the article, "Type I & II Diabetics Need Extra Protein," for more information.
-Dr. Bob advised 12 or more glasses of distilled water a day for diabetics. Diabetics need more water then people with normal metabolism, because they need to help dilute the urine to help process ammonia by the kidneys. The extra water will help decrease strain on the kidneys and help with hydration. One of the symptoms of diabetes is dehydration.
-Supplement BCAAs. Since diabetics lose 3-5 times more BCAA then those with normal metabolism, it seems an excellent idea to replace them. Once again from Dr. Michael Colgan, "Studies suggest that eating BCAA easily increases blood levels (page 163)." So BCAA supplementation may be considered sensible insurance for diabetics. Dr. Colgan recommends the supplement HMB for your BCAA. Whey protein powder also contains BCAAs. Dr. Bob recommended 1-2 grams of HMB, twice a day, for diabetics. He recommended HMB, with a meal that contained protein, 1-3 hours after a workout or walk, and one other time with a meal with protein. If you did not workout, then he advised HMB twice a day for diabetics.
-Dr. Bob advised diabetics use supplements that can scavenge ammonia, helping to keep ammonia levels lower. The supplements Dr. Bob recommended were a. KIC b. OKG. These two supplements are also recommended by Dr. Colgan to scavenge ammonia. Dr. Michael Colgan, "alpha-ketoglutarate acts in the body as an ammonia scavenger. Ornithine also acts as an ammonia scavenger. The combination of the two (OKG) is a potent way to reduce your ammonia burden (Page 377)." Furthermore, OKG spares muscles the need to break down their BCAAs in order to generate glutamine, an important energy fuel. The glutamine is generated when Alpha-Ketoglutarate combines with ammonia released during intense muscle activity. Also the ammonia scavenging property of AKG is doubly beneficial because excess free ammonia can be harmful. Dr. Colgan on ketoisocaproate, "Studies on patients who have been put into a high catabolic, high ammonia condition by surgery or disease, show that ketoisoaproate acts as a strong ammonia scavenger." Page 380)." So AKG can help produce glutamine and scavenge ammonia.
-Dr. Bob advised 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda (bicarbonate) mixed in liquid 45 minutes after you have started a meal. Proper digestion requires an alkaline environment in the small intestine. The stomach produces acid. When food enters the small intestine the acid from the stomach enters also. The bicarb neutralizes the acid. This can help digestive enzymes work properly (they cannot function optimally or may not function at all – when the small intestine is acidic, not alkaline).
Any thoughts on any of this? I know it's geared towards diabetics, but it presents some great ideas for some of us having protein metabolism problems. The ammonia scavenger supplements seem like an interesting idea. Also supplementing with BCAA's. Also said to get protein from whey or soy protein because it's easier on kidney's.