Vegan Adventures in Los Angeles Part 3

Written by LaTara Ham-Ying on February 16, 2007 at February 16th, 2007

Last night I attended the premier of a movie that my great-niece is in. Yeah, I was a young auntie, so I have great-nieces and nephews.

Anyway, on to my adventure.

At the movie premier I caught up with a few childhood friends and we got on the subject of my being a vegan. I shared why I decided to go vegan and how it has helped my life since I took the decision more serious.

We discussed the alternatives available like TVP, vegen butter, ground meat, and so much more.

At one point one of my friends said that I was not getting enough protein in my system and that my family was going to suffer as a result of protein deficency.

This is what I shared with her:

The amount of protein needed per person varies. The recommended amount is 0.36 g per lb of body weight. The more active you are the more protein you need.

Although meat is considered to be a complete protein and the protein in grains, fruits, and vegetables an incomplete protein, you can combine the incomplete to make a complete protein. For example beans and brown rice make a complete protein as does a bowl of corn and beans.

Soy is a complete protein.

Eating a variety of plant based foods through out the day will ensure complete protein assumption.

There was so much more to share with my friends about the subject of protein, but it was after midnight and time to get home for a few hours of sleep.

Before we parted, I was invited over to my friend’s house this coming Monday to cook a vegan meal for her family.

What a blessing to see knowledge at work.

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4 Responses to “Vegan Adventures in Los Angeles Part 3”

Wendy Cooper Says:
February 17th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
I’m so glad your friend is willing to learn more about veganism! That will be a fun dinner to make I’m sure!! So… whatcha makin?

Hugs,

Wendy
DaJuan Tircuit Says:
February 20th, 2007 at 4:58 pm
Thank you for sharing the information on proteins. I’m just beginning my journey to balance my diet and eat healthier. While I’ve considered being a vegetarian for a long time, I’m new to the benefits.

I appreciate your blog - I’ll keep you in my prayers

Prosper and Grow,

A fellow Ryzer,
DaJuan
Adria Nicole Says:
May 24th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
I just wanted to pass on a quote from John McDougall, MD. The protein issue is probably the most misunderstood aspect of vegan/vegetarianism. The complete protein idea really is antiquated and hopefully you can help spread the word to your readers.
(Excerpt taken from Dr. McDougall’s response to NY Times Op-Ed piece “Death by Veganism”) … Confusion about our protein needs came from studies of the nutritional needs of animals. Mendel and Osborne in 1913 reported rats grew better on animal, than on vegetable, sources of protein. A direct consequence of their studies resulted in meat, eggs, and dairy foods being classified as superior, or “Class A” protein sources and vegetable proteins designated as inferior, or “Class B” proteins. Seems
no one considered that rats are not people. One obvious difference in their nutritional needs is rat milk is 11 times more concentrated in protein than is human breast milk. The extra protein supports this animal’s rapid growth to adult size in 5 months; while humans take 17 years to fully mature. The world’s authority on human protein needs, Prof. Joseph Millward, wrote the following: “Contrary to general opinion, the distinction between dietary protein sources in terms of the nutritional superiority of animal over plant proteins is much more difficult to demonstrate and less relevant in human nutrition.”
Ruth Says:
June 16th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
I need to loose weight. I am 55 and have had heart problems related to a syndrome I have. I had heart surgery 6 years ago and got a post surgical infection. I was sick and very weak for a long time. While I have recovered quite a bit, I now have congestive heart failure. My doctor put it very simply saying “your heart can no longer pump for all of you that there is. So there needs to be less of you”. I have considered a vegetarian diet for some time. I have a very limited income and have been a little afraid to jump in because it seems costly. However, I think the health benefits are there.

I was also a little nervous after reading about a 12 year old and baby being taken from vegan parents because of severe malnutrition. While I cannot fathom why any parent would allow a child to become malnourished, some clear thinking made me realize that it wasn’t actually because they were vegan; it was because they were neglectful parents. So keep blogging, I will keep reading.