Diet and Health FAQ

Tagged As: essential of nutrition diet therapy

Question:
I keep hearing that vegetarians miss 3 essential amino acids by not eating meat. Is this nutrition diet therapy essential? I refuse to eat ANY meat even if it is. Perhaps someone can name the three amino acids, their source and functions, and what I should say the next time I hear this.

Answer:
No, it is not true that vegetarians miss 3 essential amino acids by not eating meat, assuming that they have a reasonable understanding of a vegetarian diet. Meat does not contain any a.a.'s that can't be obtained from a vegetarian source. First you should educate yourself. Head down to the library or book store and pick up a basic college nutrition text. You will find information on amino acids and protein which will provide you with a solid foundation of knowledge. With that knowledge you will be able to answer any questions that come your way. The textbook Nutrition and Diet Therapy by Cataldo, Debruyne, and Whitney provides basic information on nutrition while also presenting a very reasonable and solid stance on vegetarianism. I was surprised. When I became a vegetarian, long ago, the nutritionists were stating that the diet was unhealthy because of the lack of complete proteins. Now, they say this whole issue of complementary proteins is overemphasized. A vegetarian who eats a variety of foods, including cereals, legumes, etc., doesn't have to worry about getting complete proteins. I will add that although it is not necessary to worry and fret, it is a good idea to have a basic understanding of nutrition diet therapy and what our body's need to stay healthy and strong