Question: How much protein can be absorbed at one time?

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< TRAINING INTRODUCTION > 

The biggest protein myth is that you can only digest 30 grams of protein at one time. Find out what's wrong with this belief and just how much protein you need. This is a common question. I also get variations such as, how much protein can you digest at one time?
There are two ways to answer this, because there really two questions being asked.

  • How much protein can the digestive system physically absorb into the bloodstream from a meal?

THE MORE IMPORTANT QUESTION...

  • How much protein can you body actually utilize?

The answers...

  • About 95% and higher, unless you have some type of digestive system malfunction.

So if you get convinced by supplement companies to drink a 42g protein shake in 5 minutes, you'll still probably absorb at 38 or more grams of that protein.
Your muscle growth is not limited by the amount of protein you can DIGEST or ABSORB.
Your muscle growth IS LIMITED by the amount of protein that your body can utilize for protein synthesis.

So the answer to #2...

  • A lot less than you think.


You really don't need 40, or 30, or probably even 20g of protein per meal to keep your protein synthesis humming along. Any protein that your body can't use for growth will be shuttled into a process where it is broken down (de-aminated: meaning the nitrogen is removed from the molecule and it becomes a carbon skeleton) to be used in energy pathways.
Now, there are benefits for eating extra protein (in my opinion) when dieting, mainly that it helps to suppress appetite.

But the bottom line to the question I am asked almost everyday is...

A. Your body can digest and absorb almost all of the protein you eat without problem.

B. Your muscles can only do so much with protein...the muscle growth process is RARELY, if ever limited by the amount of protein we consume. Almost all of us can easily get enough protein for maximum muscle growth without the need for eating 50g of protein 6 times per day. Ronnie Coleman, Jay Cutler, and Gunter Schlerkcamp excluded, of course.

Overall, I'd think twice about the need to slam down a 40-50g protein shake 3 times per day... Just think of the children and puppies you'll save by not gassing them out with protein farts.


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Comments
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Jules  - Protein needs   |2010-07-17 04:37:41
It really depends on how much you weigh. The recommended dietary intake of protein for average sedentary adults is 0.85 g /kg of body weight. Strength/power athletes usually require between 1.4-2.0 g/kg of body weight. At intakes of >2.0 g/kg protein is used for fuel or converted and stored as fat. Hence someone who weighs 90 kg should ideally consume 180g of protein per day and this equates to about 30 g of protein per meal assuming 3 meals and 3 snacks.
Whey Protien Isolate  - Whey Protien Isolate   |2010-04-16 02:22:18
According to me not more than 45gm whey protein isolate per day because more than this will harmful for your health. It is enough for you for a day because your body doesn't contain more than it.
Thierry  - At one time   |2010-01-27 12:33:21
Allright so i guess you're trying to say its better to take more servings with less protein as long as you meet your "standards", how much hours does it actually take for your body to absorb the protein and consume another shake?
andrew  - im confused   |2009-11-23 20:22:50
im a bit confused about the amount of protein i should be having per day. i weigh 83kg. this article says not to have more then 20g per meal and another article on this site suggests something different. could you send me a sample of your diet and how much you weigh so i can work off that? btw love the website finally a source i can trust. thanks
Max  - question   |2009-10-15 09:46:00
I don't catch really well your meaning, if we don't need more then 20 grams of protein per meal .At the same time someone who weight 90kg needs 200g of protein per day, needs more then 20g of proteine per meal?

Thank you in advance.
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