From: gph@hpindda.cup.hp.com (Paul Houtz)
Newsgroups: rec.food.veg
Subject: Re: Multiple gestations and meat consumption
Date: 6 Apr 92 17:25:44 GMT
Organization: HP Information Networks, Cupertino, CA

writer2@auroch.HQ.Ileaf.COM (RDM Doc Contractor [Marjorie Peskin]) writes:

>I am expecting twins and have been a lacto-ovo for about 7 years.  Recently
>my OB told me that the babies were not growing as expected and sent me
>to a nutritionist at the hospital.  The nutritionist told me that I
>was not getting enough protein and strongly suggested that I eat some
>meat whilst pregnant.  I am not thrilled (an understatement) with this
>suggestion, although I have started to eat some fish.  Has anyone
>out there successfully carried a multiple gestation without eating any
>meat?
>
>I reported my dissatisfaction to my OB, who seconded the motion that meat
>consumption would be a good idea.  These are not old fogeys or anti-veg
>people.  They just think that in my case, meat would help with the
>growth of the babies.  I am really torn between my morals and the
>responsibility I have as a parent to keep these babies healthy and well
>fed.  It is hard enough eating for 3 (you cannot believe how much you have
>to eat some days), but do I have to compromise my principles as well?
>
>Marjorie	mrp@world.std.com (or the above email address)
>----------

  They are not old fogeys, but they are incredibly ignorant. 

  You can get plenty of protein to feed your gestating twins by increasing
  your intake of legumes and grains.  

  Don't be torn between your morals and responsibilty.  By eating meat you
  will be ENDANGERING your fetuses and children.  You will be eating far
  too high on the food chain and you will be exposing them to toxins
  and chemicals at a crucial time during their development.

  There is absolutely NO REASON why a Lacto-Ovo vegetarian should EVER have
  to eat meat.   Think about it.  You can eat eggwhites, which are PURE
  protein.   If ever there was a logical fallacy, there it is.  

  The fact is, you would probably be better off not eating any ANIMAL 
  protein at all.   My recommendation to you is that you get both of
  Dr. Michael Klaper's books on vegan nutrition.  Whether you go vegan
  or not, they have excellent information (based on latest science)
  about where to get protein and other nutrients from your vegetarian
  diet.

  In particular, I recommend Pregnancy, Children, and the Vegan Diet,
  by Dr. Michael Klaper, M.D.   It is available from Gentle World,
  P.O. Box U, Paia, Maui, HI 96779.

  I quote from this book regarding protein:

  "Getting enough protein", that perennial question posed to vegetarians, is
  not a worry with a balanced vegan diet.   All plants, especially GRAINS,
  LEGUMES, GREEN VEGETABLES, NUTS, and SEEDS, contain high quality protein
  that will fall all the body's needs, especially when eaten in combination
  with each other."

  The current United States R.D.A. values used in this book, 74 grams daily -
  the weight of 25 pennies - is well above the amount truly necessary
  for a healthy pregnancy, and that of the childbearing period.  The World
  Health Organization is probably more realistic in their recommendations of
  44 grams of protein daily during pregnancy, and 39 grams daily during 
  lactation.

  However, for the relatively short duration of pregnancy, there may be an
  advantage to a high-protein intake, especially in the later months of
  pregnancy.

  The condition of fluid retention and high blood pressure, called 
  preeclampsia, or "toxemia of pregnancy," has been attributed to insufficient
  protein intake.  Medical studies on 775 vegan mothers show them to be
  less prone to this serious condition, possibly due to the protein content
  and other nutritional factors (less arachidonic acid, etc.) inherent in
  the vegan diet.   Therefore, a diet rich in protein-containing foods, 
  especially in the final trimester of pregnancy, is a prudent strategy.

  Thus, the higher U.S.R.D.A. of 74 grams of protein per day will be accepted
  and used in examples, instead of the WHO's lower recommendations.  Enjoy
  more nut mixes, tofu sandwiches, bean/barley soups, and steamed greens!

                     Protein Complementing?  - Relax...
  
  The idea of plant protein being "incomplete," and lacking some 
  amino acids, has been shown to be a myth .  Nature simply does not make 
  soybean, potato, or grain of wheat, without using ALL the same amino
  acids (the "building blocks" of protein) required by the metabolism of 
  humans.  Rice, corn, potatoes, and wheat, have all been shown to
  keep people in positive protein balance, even when used as the sole
  protein source.

  Although combinations of any of the major protein foods do
  increase the quality and amount of usable protein, it has become
  evident that it is NOT NECESSARY to "combine" proteins at each
  meal.  Francis Moore Lappe', who brought "protein complementing"
  to public attention in her landmark book, DIET FOR A SMALL
  PLANET< now recognizes that intentional protein "complementing"
  is unnecessary, and states so in the most recent revision of
  that work.  As nutritional scientists have come to recognize, the
  protein from the whole grain toast enjoyed at breakfast, as well
  as the tofu in the dinner casserole, are "complete" in their own
  right, and will each find their way in your liver and other
  tissues in the right proportions, and be well utilized.
  
  However, the more variety in protein sources, the better, because
  your body tissues should have the widest variety of amino acid
  "building blocks" with which to work.  Combining protein-rich
  ingredients does increase the nutritional value of a dish or meal
  significantly, and useful combinations that increase protein
  varitey are given in the "PROTEIN PYRAMID".

   
     (included is a diagram, too complex to post here)

  The pregnant woman learning about vegan nutrition should take
  encouragement from the experience at an intentional communityin
  Tennesee (The Farm).  A published medical study of almost eight
  hundred vegan women there revealed that they had  normal
  pregnancies and bore full term, normal weight infants.   These
  women were health-concious, received good prenatal care,
  supplemented their diets with prenatal vitamins, calcium, and
  iron, and took extra care to assure a good prtein intake.

  . . . 

                 PROTEIN ALL-STARS

     GRAINS:  Brown rice, oats (cereals -oatmeal, granola, etc.)
              millet, corn, barley, bulghur, wheat (including whole
              wheat bread, pastas, creals, flour, etc.)

    LEGUMES:  Green peas, lentils, chick peas, alfalfa sprouts, mung
              beans and beans of all kinds, (Kidney, lima, adzuky, navy
              beans, soy beans and producs made from them; e.g.,
              tofu, texturized vegetable protein granules, tempeh,
              soy milks, etc.

     GREENS:  Broccoli, collards, kale, kohlrabi, spinach, dark
              green lettuce, endive, romaine, beet and mustard greens, okra,
              zucchini squash, swiss chard, etc.

NUTS& SEEDS:  Almonds, cashews, walnuts, peanuts, filberts,
              pistachios, pecans macadamias, and nut butters made from these.
              Sunflower seeds, sesame seeds (including tahini butter made from
              ground sesame seeds), pumpkin seeds, etc.


                       SPROUTS

  No discussion of protein would be completel without mentioning
  the wonderful nutritive value of sprouts.   All seeds, grains,
  and legumes can (and some people say should) be sprouted or at
  least soaked overnight before their use in meal preparation.  The
  soaking/sprouting process vastly increases the content of usable
  protein, and raises the active vitamin content by several hundred
  percent.  The digestibility of beans and seeds also improves
  greatly as the enzymes activated by the sprouting process change
  the starches to simple sugars.  Alfalfa and mung bean sprouts,
  easily created in a jar on you rkitchen window sill, or purchased
  at the supermarket, serve as nutritions garnishes to salads and
  sandwiches.  
  
  Kids seem to love sprouts, and thrive on the nutrients they
  contain.  In fact, sprouting is a fine educational project that
  children can do themselves, and will teach them to value and
  enjoy the miracle of growing food.  Pregnant women find them
  especially palatable, as well.  Instructions for sprouting as
  well as recipe ideas, are found in most vegetarian cookbooks,
  health food stores, and are available from the vegetarian
  societies listed at the end of this book.
  
  Resist the temptation to eat more than 2 ounces of sprouts daily.
  There are plant alkaloids, especially in alfalfa sproutes, that
  may adversely affect the mother and babyt if eaten in _excessive_
  amounts.
  
  Hopefully, this section has allayed any case of "protein panic,"
  and has increased your confidence in nutritional adequacy of the
  vegan diet.  Next let's consider some "elemental" ideas about -
  Minerals.

/*   end of quote from book  */
 

I really recommend you get this book.  Not only does it give you
this marvelous information (all thoroughly documented with
scientific studies, which are cited), but it includes some
terrific recipies that you can make to follow it's protein
guideline EXACTLY.


Good Luck!

  -gph
Organization: Senior, English, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA