From: jeanthea@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Mark Jeantheau)
Newsgroups: rec.food.veg
Subject: Re: De-muffining
Date: 15 Apr 92 15:54:12 GMT
Reply-To: jeanthea@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Mark Jeantheau)
Organization: Carderock Division, NSWC, Bethesda, MD

In rec.food.veg, traub@rtf.bt.co.uk (Michael Traub) writes:

>I  was  talking  about  using  brown  rice  as  a *sole* protein source. In
>communities  where  this  is the case the usual rice intake is in the order
>of  one  and  a  half  *uncooked*  cups of rice per day. This is sufficient
>protein,  as  the  USRDA  figures  are *very* conservative. WHO figures are
>*one half* of the USRDA figures.
>
>If  you  look at *your* figure of 1 cup of uncooked rice providing 14.7g of
>protein  and  *your*  figure  of  30g of protein for a man per day then you
>will notice that it is rather close to the figure of 47% that I quoted.
>
>Satisfied now?

Well, I would never claim to be satisfied for fear of being perceived
as smug. :-)

Yes, using the WHO-recommended protein figures and assuming the cup
of rice is uncooked, your calculations appear to be correct.  But one 
of the things that confuses me--and no doubt many other aspiring veggies--
is that "protein" is sometimes discussed in terms of amino acid balance--ie.
"the body can only create protein if the amino acids are present in 
the correct proportions..." But then we see references to RDA's that 
are in terms of total protein, which doesn't necessarily correlate
to utilizable protein.

I understand everything you have said, and I tend to believe most of
it.  But I'm concerned about protein consumption levels and protein 
utilization because I have observed in myself a tendancy to lose muscle 
mass as I have been experimenting with new foods (mostly grains, beans, 
legumes, and vegetables).  Perhaps this is coincidental, caused by other 
factors.  I don't know--I'm just trying to figure it out.


>>Reference 1--"The Vegetarian Handbook"--states just as emphatically that it
>>*is* important to consume complementary protiens together (p.58 and other
>>places).
>>

>But Reference 1 is wrong! Can't you understand that?

No need to flame.  Why would I have assumed something called "The Vegetarian
Handbook" was wrong?  That's not to say that I take it as gospel, either.
*All* written materials are someone's opinion.  Some more factual than
others, but interpretations nonetheless.

I will continue to investigate and accumulate evidence.  Be content
that, through my investigations, the balance of evidence is tipping 
in favor of your viewpoint. Don't get upset that I don't accept it without 
doing the proper research on my own.


>Please do not continue to spread the myths surrounding protein combining.

I don't think that by discussing it I am "spreading myths."  When there
are supposed experts out there--vegetarians, no less--who still deny
some of your assertions, how can I not want to seek out new sources
of information and question them to make sure they make sense?


>I  thought  you  were also going to prove that a diet of chocolate biscuits
>and  potato  crisps would not provide enough protein. What happened to that
>assertion?  A  diet  of  chocolate biscuits and potato crisps is actually a
>better  protein  source than brown rice! (And by better I do not mean it is
>better for you:-).

You made this as a casual assertion, with no analysis or references.
I simply made a casual observation that it didn't seem reasonable.


>P.S.  This  is  not  a  "spelling flame" but protein is spelt "protein" not
>"protien".

Hmmm... So much for what my grammar teacher said about "i" before "e"
except after "c"... :-)  Anyway, thanks.

** mark **


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// jeanthea@oasys.dt.navy.mil // Mark Jeantheau // (202) 227-3562
// U.S. Navy // David Taylor Research Center // Code 1401 // Bethesda MD 20084
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Opinions expressed herein blah blah blah... [Standard disclaimer.]
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