Amino Acids...Complete Proteins and a Vegetarian Diet...questions

[Amazon Doll]

I'm having 2 different discussions with people about how to get enough protein in the diet if they are vegetarians

My understanding of nutrition is that when a food like brocolli lists the protein content, it is listing the "amino acis" in grams, not the actual complete protein.

Since we know that there are 16 amino acids and that 8 of them are essential, getting those 8 essentilal is what a vegetarian needs. We meat eaters don't have to worry about this since our animal products contain the 8 essentials.

When a vegetable food lists "protein" it does not mean that is is a "complete" protein. Meaning that it might have a bunch of protein/amino acids, but that does not make it a "complete" protein.

Am I correct on this?

 

[oldfella]

I'm having 2 different discussions with people about how to get enough protein in the diet if they are vegetarians

My understanding of nutrition is that when a food like brocolli lists the protein content, it is listing the "amino acis" in grams, not the actual complete protein.

Since we know that there are 16 amino acids and that 8 of them are essential, getting those 8 essentilal is what a vegetarian needs. We meat eaters don't have to worry about this since our animal products contain the 8 essentials.

When a vegetable food lists "protein" it does not mean that is is a "complete" protein. Meaning that it might have a bunch of protein/amino acids, but that does not make it a "complete" protein.

Am I correct on this?

Yes I believe you are on the right track. As humans we were actually designed to derive our proteins from meat and veg. The primary requirements of protein coming from meat! Vegan diets are incomplete. They do lack the essential AA's that come from meat sources. I have known A lot of strict vegetarians and the one thing they all had in common was lack of serious lean mass and were usually complaining of some malaise of one sort or another. I used to argue with them that what they were lacking was animal based protein, even if only from fish. But it is their choice. Makes it very hard if they want to be BBers. Now this is not to say that there have not been veg. BBers. They just have to work their nutrition that much harder than meat eaters.

 

[Amazon Doll]

This discussion is out of the nurritional values of brocolli

Brocolli is listed as having per ounce:

.1 gram of fat

3 grams carbs

3 grams of protein

My friend thinks that if she eats 10oz of brocolli, she will get 30 grams of protein

 

[oldfella]

This discussion is out of the nurritional values of brocolli

Brocolli is listed as having per ounce:

.1 gram of fat

3 grams carbs

3 grams of protein

My friend thinks that if she eats 10oz of brocolli, she will get 30 grams of protein

Well while this may be true by the numbers but she will not be getting the complete spectrum of protein. I have found that you can not win an argument with vegans. They are that convinced that meat is poison and will cause more harm than good it is almost as if they are brainwashed. BTW I respect their views and way of life. I also enjoy a good healthy debate on things of which I have some knowledge.

 

[drwost]

You are absolutely correct
I learned this in biochemistry class
For example if you eat a dish of say rice and beans you have a good healthy meal but rice and beans are lacking one or two amino acids now add corn to your dish and you have a "complete" protein meal!

 

[PHIL HERNON]

Good point

You are absolutely correct
I learned this in biochemistry class
For example if you eat a dish of say rice and beans you have a good healthy meal but rice and beans are lacking one or two amino acids now add corn to your dish and you have a "complete" protein meal!

And remember, when you mix in corn, it still has the same grams of protein per serving, the difference is now that it is "complete". It still has the same number of carbohydrates. It does not "magically" turn the dish into a protein meal. Remember, GRAMS is just the weight of the protein. Just because one source of protein is HEAVIER than another source of protein does not make it better for our needs. LBAs are a good case in point. Very few GRAMS of this goes a long way as compared to other proteins. You can get away with taking less weight of LBAs to get the job done, thus you can lose weight easier and get leaner.

 

[Phidias]

Lysine is the missing amino acid in cereals while methionine is in pulses.

On the contrary cereals are rich in methionine and pulses in lysine.

Hence the idea, if you're a vegan, to associate cereals and pulses to create a complete protein.

i.e rice and beans or oats and lentils, etc...

Quinoa (a bolivian cereal) is the ONLY vegetal to display a complete amino acid profile just like beef or chicken.

 

[KillerStack]

Vegan diets are incomplete. They do lack the essential AA's that come from meat sources.

The protein is not incomplete, to be precise. It contains all the aminos, it's just that some of them are in low concentrations. All food sources are complete protein. The problem is getting ENOUGH of the essential aminos.

 

[oldfella]

The protein is not incomplete, to be precise. It contains all the aminos, it's just that some of them are in low concentrations. All food sources are complete protein. The problem is getting ENOUGH of the essential aminos.

I agree. But also I am a believer that it is the source of the amino that makes all the difference. This is why LBA's work so well. The source of the amino makes it superior. Many have argued that AA's are AA's and it makes no difference where they come from. I do not believe this. I am no scientist but I do know that other AA's products I have tried do not stack up to LBA's. Even though the amino profile in other products have higher concentrations of the same aminos. I also believe that dietary protein from meat is superior to that of vegetables, due to the source of the protein.