3 ms·

No, ruminants use bacteria we don't have to get protein out of plants. Humans can not extract that protein, so we use animals to do it then eat them. Theres ab

No, ruminants use bacteria we don't have to get protein out of plants. Humans can not extract that protein, so we use animals to do it then eat them. Theres about 30 grams protein in 1000 calories of corn. There's about 90 grams in 1000 calories beef. This is because cows are very good at extracting protein. Also, I can just let cows graze on Texas praire. I can't necessarily do that with corn.

justinclift 4y ago
> to get protein out of plants. Humans can not extract that protein ... Doesn't that mean "choose different plants" would be the more efficient / better approach there?
Retric 4y ago
It’s not that they are more efficient at extracting protein it’s they preferentially use carbohydrates for energy. Human vegetarians can have that same ratio of protein to calories in their flesh as cows or non vegetarian humans. Though the actual ratios do depend on body composition for both cattle and humans.
- collegeburner 4y ago
  Yes it is. Cows can eat only grass and still get enough protein. Vegetarians can not do that and still get enough protein. They have to eat other plants as well. Those plants do not grow everywhere.
  - Retric 4y ago
    Humans can extract enough protein in terms of grams from grasses like wheat as long as their daily activity level is high enough to burn sufficient carbohydrates. We have more complex dietary needs, but daily protein requirements aren’t actually that high. https://www.nutritionix.com/food/wheat/100g https://www.nutritionix.com/food/wheat/100g Wheat 15g of protein per 100g or 329 calories. That’s 114g on a 2,500 calorie diet.
    - jazzyjackson 4y ago
      eating cereals is eating the seed, not the grass ruminants are able to digest cellulose, it's basically what they have extra stomachs for, so they can have different chemistries that are livable for the cellulose digesting bacteria
      - Retric 4y ago
        It’s a meaningless distinction. Ruminants aren’t eating the full plant either, the roots stay in place. And of course it’s a moot discussion. Directly eating the seeds is vastly more efficient than cattle eating both especially when their primarily eating seeds in the US.

justinclift 4y ago

> to get protein out of plants. Humans can not extract that protein ... Doesn't that mean "choose different plants" would be the more efficient / better approach there?

Retric 4y ago

It’s not that they are more efficient at extracting protein it’s they preferentially use carbohydrates for energy. Human vegetarians can have that same ratio of protein to calories in their flesh as cows or non vegetarian humans. Though the actual ratios do depend on body composition for both cattle and humans.

collegeburner 4y ago
Yes it is. Cows can eat only grass and still get enough protein. Vegetarians can not do that and still get enough protein. They have to eat other plants as well. Those plants do not grow everywhere.
- Retric 4y ago
  Humans can extract enough protein in terms of grams from grasses like wheat as long as their daily activity level is high enough to burn sufficient carbohydrates. We have more complex dietary needs, but daily protein requirements aren’t actually that high. https://www.nutritionix.com/food/wheat/100g https://www.nutritionix.com/food/wheat/100g Wheat 15g of protein per 100g or 329 calories. That’s 114g on a 2,500 calorie diet.
  - jazzyjackson 4y ago
    eating cereals is eating the seed, not the grass ruminants are able to digest cellulose, it's basically what they have extra stomachs for, so they can have different chemistries that are livable for the cellulose digesting bacteria
    - Retric 4y ago
      It’s a meaningless distinction. Ruminants aren’t eating the full plant either, the roots stay in place. And of course it’s a moot discussion. Directly eating the seeds is vastly more efficient than cattle eating both especially when their primarily eating seeds in the US.