- September 3, 2018
- Gastroenterology
- Legina Marina
The benefits and harms of protein supplements are legendary. Today on the Internet you can find a variety of information that protein shakes completely destroy the kidneys and liver, undermine health and lead to addiction. Others argue that, on the contrary, it is a complete source of energy, without which an athlete will not be able to build good muscle mass. Studying information from reliable sources, you come to the conclusion that the second statement is much closer to the truth, since proteins are extracted from ordinary products and are not created artificially.
But today we were interested in another question. What should an athlete do if his stomach suffers? Is it possible to drink protein if you have gastritis? Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are so common that probably every second person is faced with a similar question.
Specify the diagnosis
The first thing to do if you have stomach pain is to get examined. You should not ask a fitness trainer whether you can drink protein if you have gastritis. The answer will most likely be yes. However, he is not a specialist in gastroenterology.
Be sure to tell your doctor that you want to start or continue taking a protein shake. Depending on the characteristics of the disease in your case, he may allow or prohibit sports nutrition. The fact is that gastritis is a disease that leads to disruption of the stomach, caused by inflammatory processes. And in each specific case the disease progresses completely differently.
Sports supplements for acute forms of the disease
Nutrition during an exacerbation is characterized by a very strict regime; in case of acute gastritis, the doctor excludes the intake of any food on the first day, consistently adding dishes to the diet that are gentle on the gastric mucosa. After the body recovers from a critical state, the foods that the patient is allowed to consume are more varied. At the same time, the patient can begin to engage in certain sports that do not involve lifting heavy objects and getting injured. Gradually, under the supervision of a specialist, you can introduce protein or gainers into the diet in small dosages. On what day after the start of a therapeutic diet it is possible to take sports supplements is decided by the doctor individually, depending on the patient’s condition.
Basic forms
The answer to the question of whether you can drink protein if you have gastritis lies in what is happening inside your body. Gastrointestinal diseases are very common among athletes, and this does not mean that you need to give up what you love. Just get tested and follow your doctor's further recommendations. During the remission stage, you can continue to take sports nutrition and also go to the training room.
If acute gastritis is diagnosed, then a strict diet will be required and, of course, you will need to forget about proteins for a while. The superficial form is treated quite quickly, so you will return to an active lifestyle in 3-4 weeks. Erosive gastritis will require drug therapy, which is accompanied by a gentle diet. The chronic form involves long-term remission, but excess tension and stress on the gastrointestinal tract can lead to exacerbation.
Sports nutrition
Gastrointestinal diseases are very diverse, and only a doctor can understand the countless forms of gastritis. The patient will definitely be prescribed physical therapy and a diet that will follow from the diagnosis. Therefore, only a specialist can decide whether it is possible to drink protein if you have gastritis.
Not only the form and stage of the disease, but also the selected cocktails are taken into account. The composition of sports nutrition may vary. These are food supplements with microelements, vitamins, gainers and carbohydrates, fat burners and creatines, nutrients and amino acids. High-quality cocktails will be an excellent help for a sore stomach during the recovery period. They are easily digested, without giving extra load, since the protein and all other elements are already partially broken down. Thanks to this, the stomach is restored without the need to digest meat, eggs and other sources of components important for muscle mass. The body receives all the necessary substances, the athlete feels full and light, energy increases, and general condition improves. Judging from this point of view, a protein shake for gastritis is a real godsend.
What is protein?
A protein is a protein consisting of a chain of amino acids. Protein is a building material without which no cell, tissue or organ can survive. Proteins can be plant or animal, and are also divided into isolate, hydrolysate, concentrate and their mixture. Why do athletes use protein? By regularly consuming foods containing a lot of protein, athletes build muscle mass, get rid of fat deposits and maintain the energy boost needed for a full workout. Protein promotes the renewal of every cell in the body and makes the athlete’s body more prominent.
Contact a consultant for help
Usually the doctor is not a specialist in the field of sports nutrition, so he will only give general recommendations. You will have to choose a specific product yourself. Protein is not contraindicated for gastritis with low acidity. In this case, a diet with foods containing protein is prescribed. And what could be easier on the stomach if not ready-made protein that does not require additional processing? It is recommended to increase the generation of gastric juice with acidic foods. Doctors do not rule out the possibility of using cocktails with protein and carbohydrates. But it is better to exclude creatine supplements. However, you will also need to focus on personal feelings. If you feel discomfort after taking a cocktail, it is better to postpone consuming them until you have fully recovered.
How to help yourself if your stomach hurts
If your stomach still hurts after taking protein supplements, do the following:
- Take an antacid - Hefal, Almagel - neo and an enzyme preparation - Mezim, Festal, Motilium.
- Follow your diet carefully after the pain subsides.
- Stop taking nutritional supplements for a while and make an appointment with a gastroenterologist. Discuss with your doctor the possibility of using proteins in your case.
Increased acidity
Once again, individual protein intolerance must be taken into account, since the protein itself is completely natural. The main thing is to avoid supplements that contain extra amino acids. Protein for gastritis with high acidity is not prohibited. With this diagnosis, it is recommended to remove from the diet all heavy foods that overload the stomach. A strict diet involves consuming carbohydrates and proteins at every meal. If there is no contraindication, then gainer cocktails are also allowed.
In principle, choosing a product with high acidity is a little easier. The athlete must take care to protect the gastric mucosa from the effects of acid and get rid of the cause of this disorder. And that's it, the problem is solved. In this case, the metabolism is only activated, and weight is not lost.
Chronic course of the disease
This is a more difficult option, since the disease is practically not curable. That is, the stages of remission and exacerbation will constantly change one another. If a person is diagnosed with this form, then his diet is seriously limited. A large number of dishes are now completely prohibited. Consequently, the athlete quickly loses weight and also suffers from vitamin deficiency.
Protein for chronic gastritis is no less important. A diet with low fat content and gentle nutrition is recommended. The basis should be proteins and carbohydrates in the most accessible form for absorption. Therefore, high-quality cocktails are recommended for consumption. Sports nutrition should be consumed in small quantities before meals to speed up the process of gastric motor functions.
Benefits of Protein
Protein is very popular among ordinary people and athletes, and all because it has a number of convincing arguments about its benefits:
- increases muscle mass;
- suppresses appetite by increasing amino acid levels;
- with the help of protein you can reach your daily protein requirement, which is very suitable for vegetarians and those who do not like meat;
- easy to use: just dilute the powder with milk or water;
- when used correctly, it normalizes insulin levels in healthy and even sick people;
- increases strength, energy and endurance;
- is not a perishable product;
- safe for health;
- exceptional protein with low fat and carbohydrate content;
- is well absorbed by the body, does not cause discomfort or heaviness of the stomach;
- enriches the body with useful substances and vitamins;
- normalizes the functioning of all body systems;
- increases the level of hemoglobin in the blood;
- restores the body after physical activity.
We recommend: Vitamins for gastritis
Stomach diseases never go away on their own. Therefore, first of all, you need to worry about health, and then about a beautiful body. If you adhere to certain recommendations for using sports nutrition for gastritis, then you will not have to choose between sports and health.
What to give up
As we have already said, cocktails with amino acids and creatine, which are high in carbohydrates, should be excluded. All formulations labeled BCAA should be put aside until health conditions are restored. Clean protein shakes are acceptable, but in small quantities. It is not recommended to take them on an empty stomach. First the main meal, then the shake. This will reduce the chance of stomach irritation.
When choosing, do not rely on advertising. Only a specialist in this field can recommend a truly high-quality product that will not harm your body, but will allow you to get better faster. Of course, in parallel with proteins, you need to eat high-quality food. These are fermented milk products, boiled fish and lean meat, stewed vegetables.
Kinds
Sports nutrition stores tirelessly advertise their products. The harmfulness, of course, is mentioned in passing, convincing potential buyers of the absolute benefits and 100% result in building muscle mass. The range of proteins is so large that it is not easy for even a specialist to understand it. We analyzed the characteristics of the main groups of protein supplements and divided them into several groups.
Gainers
These are special food additives containing simple carbohydrates and proteins. Manufacturers position them as energy-dense products that will allow you to lift weights more efficiently. That is, by consuming gainers before an intense workout, you will provide the body with an excellent supply of energy, which is determined by the carbohydrate composition of the product. Proteins in gainers are contained in smaller quantities, but in combination with carbohydrates they are perfectly absorbed, promoting the formation and growth of new muscle tissue cells.
If you take gainers after a workout, you replenish the already wasted energy. That's what the manufacturers say.
An interesting nuance. Due to the large amount of simple carbohydrates, post-workout gainers can contribute to weight gain, which is not always desirable. Carbohydrate in combination with protein stimulates the formation of fat cells, all nutritionists know this.
Now about the use of gainers for gastritis. The situation is this: if you have gastritis, you shouldn’t get carried away with too intense exercise. And if the loads are small, then you are unlikely to need extra energy reserves. A patient with gastritis also doesn’t need excess weight, so it’s wise to give up gainers and choose another protein product.
Creatine
Sports nutrition stores recommend creatine as a dietary protein supplement that promotes endurance and muscle growth.
The human body, namely muscle tissue, contains natural creatine, which we get from protein foods - eggs, red meat, fish, etc. But for creatine to “work” to increase muscle mass, this amount is not enough for a person.
You can naturally replenish your reserves by eating several kilograms of protein products per day. This is impossible and unsafe, especially for people with gastritis.
Artificial creatine is available in powder and capsules. Take it for at least a month, according to a certain scheme. The product increases endurance and promotes muscle growth in swimmers, gymnasts and other athletes. For gastritis, it is advisable to use creatine only in case of depletion of the body . Normally, the product is not necessary for patients with gastritis.
Interesting! To accurately calculate the optimal dose for a particular person, it is necessary to examine a biopsy of muscle tissue to determine its creatine content. Only based on the results of the study will the dose be selected correctly.
For gastritis, creatine is not contraindicated, but we suggest you think carefully about whether you need it. An overdose of synthetic creatine is fraught with unpleasant consequences - diarrhea, disruption of the digestive tract, etc.
Whey
This dietary supplement is produced from whey and is completely natural. It is produced in 3 types:
- Concentrate. Contains proteins, some cholesterol, fat. The lactose carbohydrate level ranges from 20 – 80%. The degree of purification of the product is weak.
- Isolate. A cleaner protein product. Biologically active components account for up to 90% of the composition. Whey protein isolate undergoes higher quality purification.
- Hydrolyzate. A highly hydrolyzed product with a high content of easily digestible proteins. It is more expensive than isolate and concentrate, but has a bitter taste and can cause allergic reactions.
For gastritis, the use of whey protein is not prohibited, except in cases of individual intolerance. You should also remember that whey protein, like all fermented milk products, can cause discomfort in the intestines.
Cocktails
A good product not only for professional athletes, but also for patients with gastritis.
It is an easily digestible water-soluble extract from egg whites, soybeans and whey. It perfectly satisfies hunger and can serve as a lifesaver when it is impossible to eat normally. Enriches the diet with valuable proteins, provided that it does not contain dyes or sweeteners.
Such cocktails are recommended for exhausted patients, some patients with cancer problems.
