3 ms·

Except as far as I understand it, there seems to be a significant utility to fake meat (and it is more of a distinct possibility than zombies): For many, there

by Eyas 10y ago

Except as far as I understand it, there seems to be a significant utility to fake meat (and it is more of a distinct possibility than zombies): For many, there are few ways of consuming a balanced diet without meat. Take low-FODMAP diets [1] for example, which are becoming very popular with people with IBS, a condition some ~15% of the U.S. population suffers from [2]. For many, coming up with enough sources of protein while satisfying their dietary restrictions is not easy without meat. On an individual level, picking the "harder" way for its ethical advantages is definitely the right thing to do. For the scientist working on fake meat, their work is probably essential here. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FODMAP [2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irritable_bowel_syndrome#Epidemiology

the_gastropod 10y ago
> For many, coming up with enough sources of protein while satisfying their dietary restrictions is not easy without meat. I'm not sure this is true. I know it's a pretty common argument, but in reality, it's not particularly difficult to hit your protein requirements on a plant-based diet. Even if you take a relatively low protein food, like brown rice, and eat your required daily calories worth of it in a day, you'll hit your protein requirements for the day. Consider that most people don't eat just rice all day, and toss in some beans, spinach, nuts, seeds, etc., and it should be clear how easy it is to get enough protein (assuming you're eating enough calories).
- jordanthoms 10y ago
  Huh? 2200 calories of Brown rice would give only 50g protein, and 400g carbohydrates. It's not that you it's impossible to get lots of protein on a vegetarian diet - the issue is that it's very difficult to maintain a high ratio of protein to carbs and fat, since even 'high protein' beans and seeds etc have less than a 1:1 ratio.
  - the_gastropod 10y ago
    Brown rice alone (at 1:8) has only a _slightly_ higher carb ratio than is typically recommended. Adding tofu, seitan, nuts, legumes, seeds, etc. will easily get you within a healthy ~2:5 range [1]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16004827 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16004827

by Eyas 10y ago

the_gastropod 10y ago

> For many, coming up with enough sources of protein while satisfying their dietary restrictions is not easy without meat. I'm not sure this is true. I know it's a pretty common argument, but in reality, it's not particularly difficult to hit your protein requirements on a plant-based diet. Even if you take a relatively low protein food, like brown rice, and eat your required daily calories worth of it in a day, you'll hit your protein requirements for the day. Consider that most people don't eat just rice all day, and toss in some beans, spinach, nuts, seeds, etc., and it should be clear how easy it is to get enough protein (assuming you're eating enough calories).

jordanthoms 10y ago
Huh? 2200 calories of Brown rice would give only 50g protein, and 400g carbohydrates. It's not that you it's impossible to get lots of protein on a vegetarian diet - the issue is that it's very difficult to maintain a high ratio of protein to carbs and fat, since even 'high protein' beans and seeds etc have less than a 1:1 ratio.
- the_gastropod 10y ago
  Brown rice alone (at 1:8) has only a _slightly_ higher carb ratio than is typically recommended. Adding tofu, seitan, nuts, legumes, seeds, etc. will easily get you within a healthy ~2:5 range [1]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16004827 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16004827