diet Up-grade...2 weeks out --WOW--watch out for too much protein at one sitting

[pbjwalnut]

I went in for my diet upgrade appointment today just a day short of 2 weeks post op....and I was expecting to get a puree diet....NOPE......can have actual food ! just chew , chew , chew ! No passta or rice, breads yet, or salad....which I don't like, no skins on fruits. Already had some roasted chicken and mashed potatoes ! I should not of stocked up on stuff ! Oh well...all is good......I'm down 18 lb.s since surgery and about 33 since the pre-op. I also learned that you shouldn't take in more than 26 grams protein at a time. I had made some diet choc. pudding and added protein to that........was told that it is too taxing on the kidneys ! So thought I would pass that info along to those of you that are doing high protein shots....I wonder if anyone else has heard this???? All in all did good....oh this was at Mass General Hospital in Boston. Went on the Duck tours after and Ellen DeGeneris was on the 3 boats in front of me with camera crews and a helicopter crew in the air........gotta get something out of my 2 hour treck into Boston for a 14 min. appointment !

[BusyGirl]

I've often wondered about all the super high protein stuff. I've always heard that high protein is tough on the kidneys.

[Janese58]

I have been eating refried beans mashed up with cheese since last saturday...yummy.

[molitorr]

I was just in today for the 4 week check in. They were all shocked that I was taking regular food and just chewing good already. I've had no bad reaction from it, so thought the Dr telling me to experiment meant just that!

[bobbybeegood]

.gotta get something out of my 2 hour treck into Boston for a 14 min. appointment !

you did, a new lease on life!

[JoyESS1]

OMG thanks for the info..I'd like to know more so I will do a search some time later...but my 1 remaining kidney (lost other to cancer) has been having too high of a creatinine level for weeks and weeks now to the point of being told I am developing Chronic Kidney Disease! I have been drinking high protein drinks w 54 gms of protein per drink! pretty much whenever and as much as I want because I was told to go on a high protein diet before surgery and that I could drink all the protein shakes I wanted! I hope that if I stop this my kidney will heal now!!!

[pbjwalnut]

I am glad you read Joy and hope it helps.......I'd hate to see anything more happen to your kidney. I just found it interesting cause everything I read on this site pushes.......the protein.....so even though I have no kidney issues....I don't want any..............just goes to prove everything in moderation. Good luck to you

[rubyspring]

to JoyESS1: I've been following this forum and another and the concensus seems to be that your protein intake should be somewhere between 70 and 100 grams per pay. I have not seen anyone post a higher recommended amount. If you have a nutritionist, you may want to check with them. Good Luck.

[jane_vsg_ayla]

I knew I had heard that you shouldnt take in more than a certain amount of protein at one time as your body couldnt really use it all and it would just come out as expensive pee... didnt know it could also damage kidneys! I have been using the high protein shakes and shots, but purposely kept them under 30g. And the ready to drink shakes are really nasty but resealable - so I leave it in the fridge and just take a swig every few hours when I pass by. I drink about 1/2 one a day and its all spread out... Havent really heard anything about how long it takes your body to use up the protein before you should have more... so if I drink or eat 20g protein in one sitting, how long before I can eat/drink another 20? Hmmm... have to research unless someone already knows!

[connie]

Thank you for the information---wow---Nina---(resident research diva) what is your take on that???? Joy, I pray that your kidney will heal. Thank you again Pam for reporting to us.

[FlowerGalTX]

Fascinating information! The 26g - 28g of protein number seems to come from the recommended amount of protein per meal based upon The Zone Diet. I wonder if that is where the nutritionist got that number?

Folks with normal kidney function should not have adverse reactions to higher protein amounts. Those with limited kidney function (like my Dad with Stage IV Kidney Disease) have to limit their protein intake. More about kidney-related diets can be found here: National Kidney Foundation: A to Z Health Guide

Also, it is essential to remember that not all protein is equal. The more digestible a protein the less strain the protein will cause on the kidneys (and the rest of the body).

Proteins are assigned a protein digestibility corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS) based upon WHAT makes up the protein. The closer a protein is to 1.0 the more digestible and usable that protein is to the body.

Dr. Richard Kreider, a sports performance nutrition analyst, assessed the following proteins and his tests yielded the following PDCAAS values for the following proteins:

Gelatin/Collagen Protein 0.08 (This means more than 92% of this type of protein is unusable by the body. This is the protein listed #1 on many protein shots. So, while the protein shot can legally claim to have X-number of grams of protein, the body will only utilize a fraction of the gelatin or collagen-based protein.)

Beef/poultry/fish 0.80-0.92

Soy 1.0

Ovalbumin (egg) 1.0

Milk protein 1.0

Casein 1.0

Whey 1.0

Bovine colostrum 1.00


While a protein may have a higher PDCAAS and would be a "good" protein that is not to say that if we drank a whey protein shake with 40 grams of protein that we would digest 40 grams of protein. Realistically, 95% digestion or 38 grams of the 40 grams of whey protein would be digested. That is IF the digestive and metabolic processes of the body were working correctly and there were no absorption issues. How we utilize food for energy is unique to the each of us.

[bobbybeegood]

Bovine colostrum 1.00

I don't know what it is, but it just sounds gross... EWWWWWW!

[Grace]

...gotta get something out of my 2 hour treck into Boston for a 14 min. appointment ![/QUOTE]

What, driving on Storrow Drive and in the big dig tunnel of terror wasn't entertaining enough? Good old "Baaaston"
I'm an hour and 1/2 away. We go down to shop a couple times a year. Faneuil Hall is fabulous

[supersmile37]

OMG thanks for the info..I'd like to know more so I will do a search some time later...but my 1 remaining kidney (lost other to cancer) has been having too high of a creatinine level for weeks and weeks now to the point of being told I am developing Chronic Kidney Disease! I have been drinking high protein drinks w 54 gms of protein per drink! pretty much whenever and as much as I want because I was told to go on a high protein diet before surgery and that I could drink all the protein shakes I wanted! I hope that if I stop this my kidney will heal now!!!

Joey thanks for sharing. I had kidney cancer too! Glad we are both survivors.

[JoyESS1]

Hello fellow kidney cancer survivor!! Whoo hoo...how many yrs out and did you have to have a radical nephrectomy? I have been freaking out because I am also a food addict and the protein shakes were keeping that under control as well as my diabetes. It is sometimes so hard just to take care of me and function.