Re: ] Dietician answers protein question

December 19, 2002

Hi Patti

Thanks for forwarding this.

It seems the real issue then is when there are too many calories.

Were you giving Katera extra protein that resulted in extra calories?

Maybe I'm missing something, but I can't see that given the correct calorie

allowance and ratio, that SWAPPING some of the carbohydrate for protein

would increase the availability of glucose, and hence weight. I would

think it to be the opposite as the % of carbohydrate converted to glucose

(50-60% I think) is much higher than the % of protein (20%).

The more I try to figure this out, the more confusing it gets!

Jill

>Dear Patti,

>The reason you don't need to give extra protein is because it will just

>turn to glucose. Protein will be used as fuel (glucose) if the body

>doesn't need it for protein purposes. 25% of all protein gets converted to

>glucose anyway. So the same goes for fat (only 10% usually converts to

>glucose). If we provide too many calories despite that it is ketogenic, it

>still will convert to glucose, thus increasing glucose levels and adding

>weight which promotes even more calories that may not be necessary which

>will then turn to glucose....I hope this makes sense.

>Happy Holidays,

>

> -----Original Message----

>

> ,

> Would you refresh my memory on something? Remember that we had a

> problem with Katera having gained too much weight.... and so we cut her

> calories back..... but you also advised me to cut the protein back. I had

> increased it on my own .... up to 1.2 gms per kilo...... but because of

> her weight gain, you advised taking it back to around 1 gm per kilo,

> which I did do. But I can't remember why you said the increased protein

> could have backfired on us..... what the reasoning was.

>

December 19, 2002

Jill,

Well, I had also increased calories, lowered the ratio..... and had upped the

protein in order help her growth and to avoid just having her get more carbs....

my decision. (Too many things at once for one thing.) Being on a lower ratio is

tricky because she is hungrier due to getting more carbs and not being in such

deep ketosis. I felt sorry for her and increased by 50 calories per day. I think

what really waylaid us was that Katera had back surgery in June for a condition

that had caused her a lot of pain and restricted mobility for a number of months

prior.... so between that and inactivity after the surgery, the calorie increase

was inappropriate (she actually was using fewer calories despite the hunger) and

she ended up gaining a lot, very quickly. had me keep the low ratio (2:1)

but cut the calories back and put the protein back to 1 gm per kilo. So, yes,

you're right...... total calories is really a big thing. But there is also

something else to it..... keeping that balance..... and I think even Freeman's

book talks about why it matters.... that you can't just trade carb for protein.

(Don't know for sure what he says, I loaned my copy to someone recently.) I

think it was my mistake in thinking that extra protein would go directly to

helping her grow.... when in fact, at least according to , it's just being

in the state of ketosis that is holding her growth back..... increasing protein

over the basic need was just being turned to glucose. I know..... I'm a little

confused, too. I think I'm getting a glimmer of understanding, though. From how

I read 's post, it sounds to me like she's saying 25% of all protein turns

to glucose anyway...... but protein in excess of the body's bottom line needs

will ALL turn to glucose. That's what I think she was meaning. I'll have to

discuss it with her further next time I see her.

Patti