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Dr. Gott: Digestion Important Part of Weightlifters' Protein Intake

Posted on: Monday, 1 November 2004, 12:00 CST

Dear Dr. Gott: What are the optimum times for protein intake when lifting weights? I lift an hour a day, five days a week. I eat most of my daily protein at two meals: 90 minutes before lifting and 30 minutes after.

Dear Reader: I'm sure that bodybuilders have their own personalized dietary habits -- and these methods probably are all equally effective. The important consideration is to avoid strenuous exercise before digestion is complete.

Although most of a high-protein meal is undoubtedly digested within 90 minutes, it wouldn't hurt to play it safe by allowing two or three hours before your next workout. The time of your second meal is less important.

But remember that you should "cool down" for 20 or 30 minutes before eating, otherwise your intestines will draw blood, for digestion, away from your muscles. This may reduce the effectiveness of your weight training.

I'd also suggest spreading out your nutrition a bit. How about a good, solid breakfast, too? To a large extent, it probably doesn't matter so much when you eat as what (and how much) you consume. The bottom line is that you should do what works for you.

Dear Dr. Gott: Several of my friends have pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer. What's causing this? Can some of the disease be treated with medication or other control?

Dear Reader: The pancreas is an organ that manufactures digestive enzymes and insulin. It may become inflamed due to a number of reasons, such as gallstones, cancer and overactive parathyroid glands. In the United States, the most common cause of pancreatitis is chronic alcohol abuse.

Symptoms include abdominal pain and poor digestion, progressing eventually to oily stools and diabetes.

The diagnosis is made by blood tests, X-rays and other special examinations.

Patients with chronic pancreatitis must avoid alcohol completely. They require special nutritional supplements (such as vitamins) and pancreatic enzymes in pill form, as well as pain medication and -- sometimes -- insulin injections.

Chronic pancreatitis is often associated with cysts in the pancreas, adding to the abdominal discomfort. Some authorities have suggested that the chronic inflammation may predispose to pancreatic cancer.

I suspect that your friends' pancreatic problems stem from the widespread over-use of alcohol in our society. Chronic pancreatitis is yet another result of years of excess alcohol consumption.

Newspaper Enterprise Association

Write Dr. Gott c/o United Media, 200 Madison Ave. 4th floor, New York, NY 10016

Source: Tulsa World

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