Are vegeterians doomed because of the lack of protein?

Question

Just wondering if Vegeterians get all the nutrients that they really need.

Answer 1

You can get protein from organic dairy products, nuts, beans & rice, tofu, etc.  Take a good multivitamin. Also, think about purifying your water.  

Answer 2

Vegetarians can definitely get enough protein if they have nutritional knowledge.

Answer 3

protein from plant sources are much healthier for you, so no they are not doomed.  A little education goes a long way.

Answer 4

yes they get just enough nutrients as meat eaters, and less heart attacks!

Answer 5

Yes we do :)

There are many fantastic plant-based sources of protein and any other nutrients we require.

You don't just have to take my word for it...

"It is the position of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada that vegetarian diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegan and other types of vegetarian diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood and adolescence."

http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada...

EDIT: and for the lovely guy above me... the theory of protein combining was popular in the 70s but has since been disproved. We are perfectly able to store amino acids between meals. Wiki isn't a great source but it explains the theory and its problems nicely :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein_com...

Answer 6

It's not impossible, just more difficult. But for growing children, adolescents, pregnant and nursing women it's a different story.

Answer 7

We have a very good friend who is vegan.  She had diabetes as a kid and lost her kidneys and was on dialysis for several years.  She got a kidney transplant and the doctors told her she would need to stop being a vegetarian now and eat meat to get enough good protein.  She said no, she wasn't going to do that, she was going to remain a vegetarian.  They said she at least had to eat some eggs or cheese or something because vegetable protein was not complete.  She said she would rather die than eat anything that came from an animal.

That was about 15 years ago. She's in fine shape now.  She did better than expected!  If I ever needed proof that vegetarianism was healthy, that's it.  Not a single bite of even eggs or dairy, just vegetables and nuts and grains.  She will outlive you and me!

Vegetarians know that no single veggie has 'complete' protein but there are many combinations that work just fine.  Every culture has some indigenous combination of a legume and a grain that supply all the protein you need.  Beans and rice, for instance, or succotash, beans and corn.  In the US it's a peanut-butter sandwich--the peanuts are actually a bean and the bread is made from grain.

Answer 8

Protein is almost in every food..not just animal products.  

A small serving of whole wheat pasta has 7 grams of protein

A handful of peanuts have 7 grams of protein

1/2 cup of cannellini beans have 7 grams of protein

A serving of broccoli has 3 grams of protein

2/3 cup of peas have 5 grams of protein

I could go on...but you get the jist.

Answer 9

Oh, please.  Have you ever heard of kwashiorkor?  Go look that up and tell me if you think vegetarians and vegans are "doomed" because they don't get enough protein.

It's a pernicious myth spread by the meat and dairy industries to sell their wares.  Too much protein, however, causes you to lose calcium from your bones and taxes your kidneys (which is why someone who has renal insufficiency is often on a low-protein diet).  And unless you're starving yourself or eating mostly junk food, it's impossible not to get enough protein.

Are omnivores doomed because of hte lack of fiber?

Answer 10

They get protein from other sources than vegetables.  There is tons of protein in soy products, nuts and tofu products, and supplements.

Answer 11

Well, I been vegetarian for 18  years, and I'm healthy as a horse.

Protien and ALL necessary nutrients can be gotten from plants (beans are full of protien) if you balance the diet correctly and know what you're doing.  

Answer 12

Protein is found in every living thing.

It cannot be avoided.

Protein should not even be a subject of discussion.

It's silly nonsense.

Answer 13

LOL, seriously?

Bread, pasta, cereal, rice, beans, peas, lentils, nuts, seeds, fruits and veggies can easily offer everything that you need except B12.

http://www.veganhealth.org/sh

http://www.pcrm.org/health/veginfo

All vegetarians should take a B12 supplement regularly since most people eat meat, dairy AND fortified cereals yet still have a B12 status that is lower than recommended.

http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/b12

It may help you if you see proof that vegetarians have the same potential as anyone else.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/sto...

http://www.veganbodybuilding.com/phpBB2/...

http://www.veganbodybuilding.com/phpBB2/...

http://www.macdanzig.net/bio.php

http://www.scottjurek.com/career.php

If you need meat or dairy during any stage of your life or to live any certain lifestyle, why does the American Dietetic Association say otherwise?

http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada...

Answer 14

No they are not doomed. Otherwise, this forum would be empty except for us meat eaters.

Protein is but one of the many nutrients that our body needs. It can be found in many foods including plants.  

Answer 15

who says they lack protein?  i get more than enough protein. most meat eaters get too much which leads to diseases later in life.  there are protein sources besides meat.

Answer 16

yes oof course we do..

Answer 17

No. That is a myth spread by people who have no background in nutrition.

My wife is a Registered Dietitian, with a Master's Degree in Nutrition and we're both vegetarians.

http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada...

Answer 18

yeah they do ... "beans , peanuts" etc....

Answer 19

Protein is abundant in a variety of foods. Like beans,nuts,soy,veggie meats. and dark veggies. Many americans actually get too much protein. Did you know any access protein that your body doesn't need leeches calcium from your bones? So contrary to common belief, high protein foods like milk, do not prevent or cure ostioperosis. Plant based proteins are much better for humans and more digestable.

Answer 20

Tofu has lots of protien.