Nutrition of Proteins: Poor Digestion with Drugs?
Proteins are critical for building the body, rebuilding our body, and causing all of the chemical reactions called metabolism. For the most part, Americans eat enough protein every day. But many do not absorb enough of the building blocks of protein, the amino acids, into their blood.
Without sufficient levels of amino acids, the body can not properly build what it needs. It needs structural proteins, blood proteins, and enzymes for metabolism.
Problems of Lack of Protein
1. Structural proteins are not synthesized to repair the cartilage in knees and other joints. This leaves us more vulnerable to injury as well as needing joint replacements.
2. Muscles atrophy, or become smaller and weaker as we age.
3. A group of blood proteins called albumins decline as we age. Since these help hold water in the blood, lacking them may contribute to dehydration. Their loss may also encourage edema, or swelling.
4. Without sufficient levels of amino acids, the proteins known as enzymes may not be made at the high levels needed by the body. Low levels of amino acids can lower the metabolic rate, making it easier to gain weight (or harder to lose weight). Vision may also not be as sharp because the eyes require large amounts of enzymes to function properly.
Why are Protein Levels Low? Effect of Drugs?
A. The stomach is designed to begin the digestion of protein. Under the chemical conditions of strong acid, a protein-cutting enzyme is able to chop the protein up into many little pieces. These little pieces may then be further digested in the small intestine, and absorbed as the amino acid building blocks, or small amino acid chains.
B. Most Americans overeat. While protein rich foods should stay in our stomachs for three to four hours for proper digestion, we push them out very quickly with extra servings of potatoes or bread. Dessert needs room as well, and so that large amount of food will push the protein out of the way.
C. Another major problem is that many Americans are taking medications for acid reflux, GERD, or heartburn. With the effective drugs (often called antiulcer drugs) able to reduce acid production significantly, it is most likely reducing the digestive activities of the stomach. Larger protein chains will not digest as effectively in the small intestine, which leads to a deficiency.
While not well researched, protein levels are likely to be affected whenever acid is reduced.
Proton Pump Inhibitor drugs also change the pH of the stomach significantly.
Quick Tricks to Increase Protein in the Blood
1. Chew meats, eggs, cheeses, nuts, and beans thoroughly.
2. Increase protein intake, especially nuts, beans, and lowfat milk products.
3. Increase protein intake by using protein powder. Mix iit nto foods.
4. Cook meats more completely to ’soften’ the protein. Keep them moist.
5. Use broths (low sodium, low fat) or cook meats in soups and stews.
6. Use meat tenderizers, stab the meat, and let it marinate in the refrigerator. These enzymes break down the proteins.
7. Don’t over stuff the stomach with other foods after eating protein. Instead, let the protein have time in the stomach to digest.
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