Protein from vegetarian products

[marmalady]

Most of you know my son is a quad with a spinal cord injury. Part of his 'wellness' program includes getting at least 60-80 grams of protein a day, to help with skin issues as well as keeping and building overall muscle tone and development and repair.

The clincher is that he's a vegetarian; he does eat eggs and cheese, but we've been relying heavily on a lot of the veggie products available, a la Morningstar Farms veggieburger products, Bocaburger, and Yves. These products all list a pretty good protein count (Morningstar Farms' Harvest Burger is 18 grams protein). But I always wondered if the veggie protein was 'enough' to keep his body's protein high.

Last week he underwent some blood work, and they did a total protein count as well as all the breakdowns - the doc was really impressed!!! Matt's counts were either all within the normal range, or only slightly on the low end; the doc said an extra egg or protein shake would be all he'd need to give the boost up to normal in all categories.

Made me feel good, and now I really have confidence in the products I'm using.

[CompassRose]

That's excellent! I'm trying to cut meat and fish out of my diet again (I found my health was suffering, because basically I wasn't eating enough to get enough protein at all). I feel a lot better PHYSICALLY when I eat concentrated animal protein, but I hate it. Of course, my goal is to eventually get rid of eggs and cheese as well... but it's so encouraging to see proof that one doesn't have to eat meat to be healthy!

[Miller]

A wonderful product for protein is GOATEIN(TM) and is a great way to supplement your diet with a high quality protein. It is whey made from goat milk and is available from most health food stores. I like it because it's easy to digest. It comes from a source that is not fed chemicals, antibiotics, or hormones. It contains all the essential amino acids. And is minimally processed and also contains naturally occurring strains of probiotics and digestive enzymes. All beneficial to good health.

Not to alarm anyone, but just a point. Protein is very necessary and if you do not get enough, your body will start to take it from your muscles. Your heart, being a muscle, is one of the places it will affect.

Whey is also the highest rated in B.V. (Biological Value). That means your body gets a higher degree of the protein benefit.
* whey protein powder is 100-159 which is the measure of a protein's abilty to be used by the body. Milk is 91, beef-80, chicken-79, beans-49

I also use a whey-based powered milk replacement product on top of using Goatein(TM).

[chiffonade]

Last week he underwent some blood work, and they did a total protein count as well as all the breakdowns - the doc was really impressed!!!

That's because his mother took the time and care to seek out products with protein to meet his needs.

To Veggies (the people, not the food) getting enough protein has always been a challenge. I mean, how much time can you spend at the Goya Beanery and tofu is a large white block (and tastes like one, too). The prepared foods aimed at the vegetarian public are probably more healthy - but as with any other prepared foods - watch out for inordinate amounts of salt.

A lacto-huevo-vegetarian should get appropriate amounts of protein from the dairy products - but a veggie burger sounds pretty good...

[marmalady]

Thanks, Chif - Just doin' my job! I know about the high salt and sometimes fat content of veggie foods; but at the point my son came home from rehab, his weight was 115 - down from pre-injury weight of around 170! Our main concern was weight gain, and now that we have that pretty well conquered, we'll go after the sodium/fat issues!

Miller, I've seen the Goatein products; they are good, and more digestible than some of the other 'protein powders'; but for the strict vegan, they're off limits.

[foodnfoto]

You may also want to try some products like tempeh (cultured soy beans) and seitan (wheat gluten) as protien sources. It takes some doctoring, but they can be quite good.
Edamame (boiled green soybeans in the pod) are also very tasty snacks.

[marmalady]

Thanks, FNF - I do use seitan quite a bit, and love the versatility I have with it. Son and hubbie like it, too, because of the 'mouth feel' - kind of chewy, like meat. I've fried it, roasted it, put it in stews/soups, grilled it, made 'parmigan' dishes with it. Don't care for tempeh too much.

And we all love edamame! In fact, I'm making them as part of a 'nibble bowl' for a party - deep frying and then coarse salt and black sesame seeds.

[Miller]

Marmalady - Being a "vegetarian" means different things to different people. There's the "Twinkie" vegetarians who eat nothing but non-animal junk food. There are those who don't eat red meat, but eat fish and chicken, and so forth and so on...all calling themselves "vegetarians".

For many "vegetarians" the pure goat's milk protein from Goatein is a perfectly accaptable protein substitute. I personally find soy products so highly processed that I avoid them. Many people are also allergic to soy. In good conscience, I never suggest soy products. I think there is enough science to prove isoflavones may cause problems in sensitive individuals. All the chemical processing soy products go through cannot remove all the toxins associated with soy and I don't want to consume products that are chemically processed.

We all must live within our own definition of "vegetarian" and choose foods accordingly.

[marmalady]

Hey, Miller - You're preachin to the choir here!

[chefboy2160]

Hey Marm , I share an office with 3 Registered Dieticians and Ill give you all my 2 cents . We americans eat way to much protien compared with the rest of the world . A serving size of meat for a 200 pound person ( ME ) should be 3 ounces per meal with up to 7 or 8 ounces per day of consumption . The fear of not enough protien is mostly a learned behavior from our youth . For example beans and rice offer some of the best protien available on this planet . Since your son is into plant food I would suggest seeking out some cultural recipes from what we call third world countries .
You can really be suprised at how many meatless dishes there are on this planet . Happy Holidays and keep cooking , Douglas...........................

[marmalady]

Chefboy, I totally agree with you that most folks can get by on far less protein than we've been told we need.

However, for a person with a major injury/disability, the protein requirements go up due to the continued need for muscle rebuilding, and to keep the skin in top shape to prevent skin breakdowns (bed sores to the uninitiated!).

There are so many metabolic and chemical changes that happen in the body when a spinal injury occurs, that we just try and play catch-up most of the time to try and get all the nutrients required.

Miller, I hear ya - My son would not eat a goat-derived product. Sorry, and thanks for the try!

[Shimmer]

You'd be surprised how many foods have protein that aren't classified as "proteins." Grains, cereal, beans, etc. Don't forget to count those!

Try eating quinoa, the perfect grain. It has more protein than others. And it is delicious and filling!

~Shimmer~

[kokopuffs]

And don't forget tofu not only as a source of protein but also fat, up to 35% fat.

[Dances]

thank you for your post on protien from vegetarian products. I am hypoglycemic, diagnosed long before becoming vegetarian. There are also vegetarian multiple vitamins I take as a supliment in addition to the various products out on the market. Nature's Plus Source of Life it's a great backup with the veggie diet. I have a bad habit of eating too many things like potato chips etc., as I am always on the go and want a quick somewhat affordable snack, at least with the vitamin suppliments I'm assured some additional support for when I don't eat right. Many Blessings to YOU... animals are my friends, I don't eat my friends. Ethical and Humane treatment of living things is my prayer.