Calorie from protein.

[TT Eric]

One thing that I would like to clarify since a long time and never saw anyone talking about it... if someone can tell me if I'm wrong in my understanding that would be appreciate.

We know that 1g of protein = 4cal and unless I'm wrong your body has to 'transform/burn' that gram to actually release the energy from it... but since proteins are not the preferable source of energy of the body, it is more likely to be used as building blocks for muscles, cells, organs, blood, etc... so it doesn't have a double action, ie be used as a 'block' and also release energy, it's either one or the other, the body will not have 4cal out of the protein if it's used as material, right ? And the other way around is the same, if the body use the protein as energy, you loose this 'material' for further use.

For example, if I eat 50g of carbs, I will have 200cal for sure, since it's fuel and there is no other use for carbs beside fuel.

But if I eat 50g of proteins, I might have, let say hypothetically 10% of them used as fuel by gluconeogenesis and the rest used to repair/build tissues, so I will only get 20cal from those proteins instead of 200, since most of them are used as materials.

In other word we do not really get the calories from the proteins because we are using them for other purpose then fuel, yes it is potentially fuel, but unless the body decide to use them, it's materials.

Fat would be in between proteins and carbs, since we use some for the body, cells, hormones, etc... but not as much needed as proteins, so a lot of it is use as fuel/energy.

Am I making sense ?

This is another reason why in my mind 'a calorie is a calorie' doesn't make sense at all, since one macro is 100% fuel and the 2 others can be used as material instead of energy.

Eric

[scottlove]

[Praetorian]

In order to utilize the macros eaten ie protein, fat , and carbs the body needs to digest the food and break it down into parts it can use...ie amino acids, fatty acids, glucose....the process of doing this release energy.

P

[scottlove]

In order to utilize the macros eaten ie protein, fat , and carbs the body needs to digest the food and break it down into parts it can use...ie amino acids, fatty acids, glucose....the process of doing this release energy.

P

Hey P, just out of curiosity, do you have a degree in nutrition or kinesiolgy, or any of those fields? I must say, your knowledge in these fields seems to be endless. You sound like you could teach these subjects at a University level.

[Primal]

Hey P, just out of curiosity, do you have a degree in nutrition or kinesiolgy, or any of those fields? I must say, your knowledge in these fields seems to be endless. You sound like you could teach these subjects at a University level.

^^This. You wouldn't believe some of the stories profs have told the class about their diets and such and they have PhD's. You would really do us kids a lot of good by dropping some of your knowledge on us, especially in a classroom setting!

-Primal

[TT Eric]

Not sure what you meant Scott.

In order to utilize the macros eaten ie protein, fat , and carbs the body needs to digest the food and break it down into parts it can use...ie amino acids, fatty acids, glucose....the process of doing this release energy.

P

Sorry I'm not sure I get this, it's like you mean that breaking down the food we eat will release it's energy immediately, but those macros are still there, for example if breaking down a protein into amino acids release energy, but this amino acid is used to build a muscle cell and later is burned via gluconeogenesis, it would mean it released energy twice... Same for fat, if it's energy is released when it's broke down into fatty acids, then is stored, how come it's still energy waiting to be burned later ? (Just trying to understand).

I know that converting the macros into usable energy cost some calories when it's broke down (about 3% for fat, 30% for proteins and 7-20% for carbs) but was not aware this process release energy in the same time

I must say, your knowledge in these fields seems to be endless. You sound like you could teach these subjects at a University level.

Agreed, he's kind of like Yoda. lol.

Eric

[Praetorian]

Hey P, just out of curiosity, do you have a degree in nutrition or kinesiolgy, or any of those fields? I must say, your knowledge in these fields seems to be endless. You sound like you could teach these subjects at a University level.

No formal education in nutrition to speak of...I just read everything I can get my hands on from guys I trust when it comes to nutrition...and of course countless years of using that knowledge on myself and my clients to find out what works best. I guess when it is your passion you tend to get to understand it pretty well...i still learn a lot everyday however and being a science geek tends to help! ;o)

P

[scottlove]

Sorry Eric, all I was trying to say was that I felt like I was back in high school, reading from a text book and what I was reading was just rattling around inside my head and coming out my ear. I've always had a very low attention span.I was WTFing myself more than you.

[TT Eric]

Oh ok got it!

Eric