Ironically, the only people in danger of calcium deficiency are those who eat unnaturally large amounts of animal protein. This is because the body uses a great deal of calcium in the process of excreting excess animal protein a problem which does not occur with plant protein. The result is negative calcium balance. Even with a calci-um intake far higher than that available in the standard American diet, the body will still lose more calcium that it absorbs, unless the amount of animal protein in the diet is lowered. If you re worried about calcium, don t drink more milk, just eat less high-protein animal products and more fresh green vegetables, grains, legumes and nuts.
Babies grow more rapidly than at any other period in their lives.
Their protein needs are, therefore, at a maximum. The biological reality is that we humans need very little protein in our diets. Many people have come to believe that animal protein is of high-er quality than plant protein, and that good health is dependant upon getting enough animal protein in one s diet. Fortunately, this isn t the case. Our biological needs for protein are as easily met by plant foods as they are by animal foods.