The Importance of Protein
I have great pleasure in introducing you to my latest pod cast with Health and Fitness Professional and Nutrition Expert, Ben Pratt, called The Importance of Protein.
In this pod-cast we discuss why protein is so important in our diet.
If you want to listen to the other inspirational pod-casts with Ben then click on the links below;
Are Carbohydrates Making You Fat
If you want to find more about Ben then please check out his web sites; Please make any comments you have about this pod-cast and if you have found it useful.
Please make any comments you have about this pod-cast and if you have found it useful.
Just wondering where Ben stands on the subject of vegan's using Spirulina (blue-green algae) as a source of protein.
It is my understanding (and I could be wrong) that chicken has appx 24% protein and beef around 30% protein whereas spirulina has in excess of 60% protein.
I agree that using supplementation of B12 (and other B vitamins) plus Vitamin D are essential for vegans. However, I would be interested to hear about Ben's take on using Spirulina as a source of protein for vegans (particularly raw vegans)
Thanks again for interesting and thought provoking podcast
M
Thank you for you kind comments regarding this podcast. It was enjoyable to chat it through with Pete. I am pleased that you instinctively turned away from soya milk - it is a highly processed food that does little for promoting healthy digestion and indeed can have a toxic effect over time. Remember that traditionally prepared sources of soya can provide more positive effects such as natural shoyu, tempeh, natto and miso. These are not the typical foods we in Western culture seek, but have a much longer history of nourishing humans than many of the modern processed soya based foods. Watch out for other common sources of processed soya such as breads, gravy granules and ice cream and ready made meal sauces (in the form of vegetable oils).
Thank you Maureen for the interesting question on spirulina as a source of protein for vegans. You are correct that spirulina is a very dense source of protein ranging between 55-75% protein. It is also a more digestible form than other forms of algae such as chlorella. There is some evidence to suggest that the Aztecs and some traditional African cultures ate spirulina to some extent, so it has a history as part of the human food chain.That always reassures me a bit. It is considered a complete source of protein - it contains all the essential amino acids - however, it is somewhat limited in methionine and cysteine that tend to be low in many plant foods. It cannot be considered a straight forward replacement to other vegetarian sources of protein like milk, cheese and eggs which are more biologically valuable. Although the percentages of protein available in chicken, meats and dairy are not as dense as spirulina you must be careful not to take the position that more is always better. Excess protein also has its problems and most experts tend to agree that there is little need for protein above 15-20% of calories, even for very active individuals. Spirulina can certainly serve to contribute towards a vegan's protein needs, but the diet should contain other suitable sources like nuts, pulses, beans and seeds. A lot of spirulina today is mass produced in shallow farming ponds. In my experience intensive farming methods and mass production always reduce the quality of naturally occuring foods and often introduce toxic components. Be aware of the source or brand you purchase and try to seek some decent standard of quality. It is important for vegans to become as informed as possible regarding their dietary intake to ensure that deficiencies like B12, vitamin D and iodine do not set in.
Hope that serves to answer you sufficiently. Thank you both and I wish you well in your efforts to be healthy.
Ben
Interestingly enough, a number of raw food leaders, authors and proponents the raw food movement have now openly acknowledged that the 100% raw food vegan diet does not provide everything that we need in our diets.
In fact, some have started to add in some dairy to their diets - which is interesting stand-point given that not so long ago they advocated only having a 100% raw vegan diet.
I guess this shows that even the so called "gurus" are still learning and that keeping an open mind and having things in moderation is the key to good health.
Thanks again
M
It has certainly given me plenty to think about.
Gilly
This is a totally fascinating and informative podcast. It certainly makes me want to stop drinking soya milk, what do you reckon to lactofree milk Ben?
My daughter is a vegetarian and I do not know whether she obtains all the nutrients she needs from her diet. I could do with passing this podcast on to her. Her behaviour patterns seem to her dad and me and probably others that she always has to be treated with kid gloves hypersensitive is a word we would use!
I feel that this is connected to her diet, what do you think Ben?
I spent a couple of days simple carb free and it is amazing how alert and able to distinguish hunger feelings so much more easily I was. I felt great. Now I am keeping simple carbs to an absolute minimum.
Thanks Ben and Pete!
EArthmother x
Lactofree milk is also very processed and will be no better than standard pasteurised milk, but with the lactose enzymatically removed. If you have lactose intolerance it is important to understand that this is an enzyme deficiency, not an allergy or intolerance. Pasteurisation destroys the enzyme lactase that helps us digest the milk sugar lactose. It is fairly common for those with lactose problems to be able to drink and enjoy unpasteurised milk. It may be worth a try. Start in small doses and see how you respond.
Regarding your daughter, if she has been eating a vegetarian diet for 1-2 years the chances of experiencing deficiency is much higher. The 'hypersensitivity' that you refer to may be due to poor blood sugar control and so a better balance of proteins and fats with less emphasis on carbohydrates may help. If she takes dairy and eggs this should be a regular feature in her diet, but must be of the highest quality. If she has been vegetarian for some time she may also be experiencing vitamin B12 deficiency, especially if she eats little dairy and eggs. One of the symptoms of B12 deficiency is irritability. It is often recommended that vegetarians, particularly vegans supplement with B12.
Hope that may offer a couple of possible solutions.
Ben
It's so strange to crave for milk as I usually can't stomach the stuff.