• @draughtcyclist@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    25 months ago

    They can, but it takes a large amount more work to balance for complete amino acid profiles in the diet.

    Meat and eggs are “complete” proteins, which contain all the aminos you need to build muscle. Plant proteins are “incomplete” proteins, which means the amino profile is not complete and missing some amino acids.

    It’s not insurmountable, but some planning is needed to fill in amino gaps in one incomplete protein source with a complementary protein source. Example would be rice and beans tend to be complementary.

    • @Floey@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      English
      25 months ago

      Your post contains a lot of incorrect information. First of all, basically all plant proteins contain every essential amino acid. You can nitpick about certain foods being low in certain amino acids but void of them they are not which is what you are claiming. But also your statement on complementary foods is incorrect. Legumes and most vegetables don’t need to be complemented by anything. Certain grains like wheat are lacking, but quinoa is fine. Potatoes are lacking, but squashes are fine. Basically all fruits are lacking and just low in protein overall. “Don’t eat a diet of fruit and bread.” is a pretty big step from “It takes a large amount more work…”

      And this is tangential but we should be concerned about nutritional content in general, not simply the amino acid profile. Amino acids are simply just some of the many essential things our bodies need. Compared to vegetables like spinach, steak and eggs are by far more nutritionally incomplete.