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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Most people are clueless about protein or calcium needed

202 replies

Floflomo · 26/10/2015 14:57

I follow a vegan diet and the amount of people that go on about protein or calcium is ridiculous and just shows they are totally clueless.

The RDA for protein isn't that big at all, many veg contains protein so before even getting onto to nuts, seeds and pulses I've had half of the RDA just from veg.

Calcium is in way more foods than just dairy, I had figs in porridge for breakfast made with almond milk. For lunch I'm having a salad with lots of leafy greens with a dressing made from tahini, so I'm doing just great with calum and getting it from a variety of sources.

OP posts:
PanicNotAtTheDisco · 26/10/2015 15:58

CoteDAzer - major LIKE for your post.

Dogzeyes · 26/10/2015 15:59

Since you asked calcium in your blood is a really bad measure of how much calcium you have in your body (as its not supposed to be in your blood) and calcium in green veg is really not that bioavailable. Naturally vegan animals have four stomachs to deal with the bioavailability issues.

However tbh if you feel better being vegan go for it. I felt ill and tired as a veggie let alone a vegan even taking supplements so saying that it is a 'healthy' diet is a bit misleading you can be a healthy vegan or and unhealthy vegan or a healthy omnivore or unhealthy omnivore.

BrandNewAndImproved · 26/10/2015 16:16

Meh if I could be bothered to argue back I would. As it is I don't. Biscuit

BlackeyedSusan · 26/10/2015 16:23

yep. I was really surprised at how little protein the children needed when we started eating a lot less animal based protein. they can get most/all of it for breakfast.

IndomitabIe · 26/10/2015 16:51

Wait, what? Vitamin B12 is just washed off veg because of pressure washers?

Wouldn't pressure washers shred vegetables? And isn't the B12 inside cells/tissues?

Genuine question!

MrsTerryPratchett · 26/10/2015 17:13

So a vegan that carefully makes sure they get a balanced diet, I knew someone would start talking about eating disorder. Only on mn is trying to eat healthy an eating disorder.

I was a vegetarian for 8 years. Perfectly healthy. I knew two vegans in university. One definitely had an eating disorder and the other probably did. One vegan in my family; had an eating disorder. Anecdata? Definitely, but true nonetheless.

Senpai · 26/10/2015 19:11

Depends on your lifestyle. If you're trying to build muscle or strength train for endurance, you need meat. It's just in a more concentrated amount.

I personally think children should have meat and fish products for healthier development, but to each their own.

But day to day, as long as you're eating more healthy stuff than not and not leading a sedentary lifestyle, no diet really matters.

Senpai · 26/10/2015 19:14

Average life expectancy in India has only just reached 68.

With their sanitation records and inability to sustain electricity in rural areas, that life expectancy would decrease dramatically if meat was introduced.

BrandNewAndImproved · 26/10/2015 19:17

There are loads of vegan athletes and body builders. Protein doesn't just come from meat. There is more protein gram for gram in broccoli then steak.

InTheBox · 26/10/2015 19:21

Are you familiar with the term 'sanctimonious' OP?

caroldecker · 26/10/2015 19:22

Its not just protein, but also essential amino acids - AFAIK, meat contains all essential amino acids, but no vegetable does, hence the importance of a mixed diet for vegans/vegetarians.

Abidewithme3 · 26/10/2015 19:24

God talk of diets and meat eating sends me to sleep.

Eat what you like op. No one cares really they don't.

Nothing more boring than other people's diet choices.

Shallishanti · 26/10/2015 19:25

maybe think again about the almond milk

WMittens · 26/10/2015 19:57

There is more protein gram for gram in broccoli then steak.

Utter bollocks. Just google it. 100g of steak has 28g protein, 100g of broccoli has 2.8g.

This myth came about from "calorie for calorie" comparisons, and it still wasn't true then:

www.jeffnovick.com/RD/Q_%26_As/Entries/2013/9/9_Which_Has_More_Protein__100_Calories_of_Broccoli%2C_Steak%2C_Romaine_or_Kale.html

eathropology.com/2013/04/08/broccoli-has-more-protein-than-steak-and-other-crap/

anothernumberone · 26/10/2015 20:09

Humans have evolved to thrive and survive on a variety of different diets. We, in the west, are existing at an unbelievably fortunate time in human history whereby we can make conscious decisions about the type of diet we wish to exist. Vegan would never be my choice of diet and it is not even one of those things I can muster up a conscience about since the world would actually fall apart if we all decided to be vegans in the morning due to the pressure that would put on agriculture so I too do not get the point of this thread.

Notimefortossers · 26/10/2015 20:14

I just lost ten minutes of my life reading this thread. I'm never getting those minutes back

minimalist000001 · 26/10/2015 20:23

I was always told we need a small palmful of protein at every meal - in what ever form

ragged · 26/10/2015 20:23

In India b12 isn't a huge issue as all veg has it as isn't washed away by high power jet washes like UK supermarkets stuff.

Er, is that logic part of the myth that the best veggies are those heavily contaminated by human and animal waste (containing ample B12)?

I dunno, I choose to avoid E. Coli myself.

CoteDAzur · 26/10/2015 23:20

"I was always told we need a small palmful of protein at every meal - in what ever form"

Except that there are many different types of proteins, 8 of which are "essential" - i.e. we can't make them and have to get them separately from the food we eat.

It's better & more efficient to get your proteins from animal sources because:

(1) Proteins derived from animal foods are "complete" because they have all essential proteins in sufficient quantities - i.e. as you say, great if you have just a small palmful. Proteins derived from animal foods are not complete, as they generally lack several essential proteins.

(2) Bioavailability - In general, much higher in animal foods than plant foods.

minimalist000001 · 26/10/2015 23:24

When you say meat. Do you mean meat and fish?

XiCi · 27/10/2015 05:48

The funniest thing I've read on here is that there are "loads of vegan athletes and bodybuilders"
What utter bullshit.

Swiftly followed by "there is more protein in broccoli than steak" hahaha. It's worrying that people believe this shit.

KitKatCustard · 27/10/2015 06:51

The only vegan I have known was also the skinniest, palest, sickest person I have ever known too. Possibly coincidental...

Thefitfatty · 27/10/2015 06:59

I think most people are pretty clueless about nutrition and health. Including me.

KitKatCustard · 27/10/2015 07:08

How much protein in a Mars Bar?