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Protein considerations are largely a myth. You'll get your proteins unless you go out of your way to avoid them, you don't need them in every meal unless you're

Protein considerations are largely a myth. You'll get your proteins unless you go out of your way to avoid them, you don't need them in every meal unless you're a bodybuilder or something.

Yodel0914 3y ago
Or unless you care about maintaining muscle mass, which should be either #1 or #2 on your list if you care about lifespan and healthspan (the other one being cardiovascular fitness).
- QuiDortDine 3y ago
  Basically the problem with focusing on protein is people will tend to eat more meat, which has terrible cardiovascular consequences, rather than what they should be doing which is varying their nutrition, not analyzing a single food for its protein content. Don't eat just the one food, people.
- drekk 3y ago
  Do people just not know about vegan/vegetarian body builders? Forget about humans. Do you think a horse has problems maintaining muscle mass? We're opportunistic scavengers. We run on nearly anything.
  - Yodel0914 3y ago
    Do you think vegan/vegetarian bodybuilders don't care about protein intake?
gerad 3y ago
I never understood this. Cows make protein from eating grass. I assume that we can do much of the same.
- RodgerTheGreat 3y ago
  Different organisms have different metabolic pathways. Humans are unable to synthesize 9 of the 21 most common amino acids, and must acquire them from food. To learn more, look up "Essential Amino Acid".
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- Turing_Machine 3y ago
  Cows do it by having a complicated multiple-chambered stomach full of specialized bacteria that can digest cellulose -- basically a natural chemical engineering facility. Humans don't have that.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- JimDabell 3y ago
  Why would you assume our bodies work like cow bodies? We are very different animals.
- layer8 3y ago
  Maybe we should genetically engineer humans to be more like cows, instead of genetically engineering mold to be more like meat. ;)
lemming 3y ago
Protein needs are not a myth, and are backed by some of the most extensive research in the nutrition field. See for example examine.com: https://examine.com/guides/protein-intake https://examine.com/guides/protein-intake. The recommended amounts are far higher than most people get. As mentioned down-thread, gaining and maintaining muscle mass is not just for bodybuilders, it's incredibly important as we age to maintain quality of life. Sarcopenia as a result of disuse is one of the plagues of our modern times, and contributes to huge quality of life declines as we age.
- QuiDortDine 3y ago
  You'll get your proteins without even trying, as long as you're eating a somewhat normal diet. Look at the table in your own link titled "Combining incomplete proteins". Just don't eat only the one thing all the time and you'll be fine.
  - lemming 3y ago
    I’m fairly active, and currently losing some weight, both of which raise my requirements, but it’s not like some sort of niche use case. I track what I eat using an app with a reliable macronutrient database, so the incidental protein is all accounted for. I can assure you that getting anywhere near the recommended amount doesn’t happen by accident, unless I massively blow my calorie budget.
    - drekk 3y ago
      "Cutting" isn't a normal diet. Weight lifters do track their macros more closely to make sure they're getting enough protein on a caloric deficit. It's very easy to starve yourself "the wrong way" while doing it. It's absolutely niche. Of 300 million Americans, during an obesity epidemic, how many do you think are cycling bulking and cutting? It's ridiculously easy to get your recommended daily averages even as a vegetarian without thinking about it. Rice and beans? Complete amino acid profile. Same with bread and butter. But let's get into statistics and leave the anecdata behind us! Most Americans are consuming double their recommended protein intake, but half the fiber: https://www.deseret.com/2024/1/30/24055585/americans-eating-too-much-protein-not-getting-enough-fiber-diet/ https://www.deseret.com/2024/1/30/24055585/americans-eating-...

Protein considerations are largely a myth. You'll get your proteins unless you go out of your way to avoid them, you don't need them in every meal unless you're a bodybuilder or something.

Yodel0914 3y ago

Or unless you care about maintaining muscle mass, which should be either #1 or #2 on your list if you care about lifespan and healthspan (the other one being cardiovascular fitness).

QuiDortDine 3y ago
Basically the problem with focusing on protein is people will tend to eat more meat, which has terrible cardiovascular consequences, rather than what they should be doing which is varying their nutrition, not analyzing a single food for its protein content. Don't eat just the one food, people.
drekk 3y ago
Do people just not know about vegan/vegetarian body builders? Forget about humans. Do you think a horse has problems maintaining muscle mass? We're opportunistic scavengers. We run on nearly anything.
- Yodel0914 3y ago
  Do you think vegan/vegetarian bodybuilders don't care about protein intake?

gerad 3y ago

I never understood this. Cows make protein from eating grass. I assume that we can do much of the same.

RodgerTheGreat 3y ago
Different organisms have different metabolic pathways. Humans are unable to synthesize 9 of the 21 most common amino acids, and must acquire them from food. To learn more, look up "Essential Amino Acid".
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
Turing_Machine 3y ago
Cows do it by having a complicated multiple-chambered stomach full of specialized bacteria that can digest cellulose -- basically a natural chemical engineering facility. Humans don't have that.
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
JimDabell 3y ago
Why would you assume our bodies work like cow bodies? We are very different animals.
layer8 3y ago
Maybe we should genetically engineer humans to be more like cows, instead of genetically engineering mold to be more like meat. ;)

lemming 3y ago

Protein needs are not a myth, and are backed by some of the most extensive research in the nutrition field. See for example examine.com: https://examine.com/guides/protein-intake https://examine.com/guides/protein-intake. The recommended amounts are far higher than most people get. As mentioned down-thread, gaining and maintaining muscle mass is not just for bodybuilders, it's incredibly important as we age to maintain quality of life. Sarcopenia as a result of disuse is one of the plagues of our modern times, and contributes to huge quality of life declines as we age.

QuiDortDine 3y ago
You'll get your proteins without even trying, as long as you're eating a somewhat normal diet. Look at the table in your own link titled "Combining incomplete proteins". Just don't eat only the one thing all the time and you'll be fine.
- lemming 3y ago
  I’m fairly active, and currently losing some weight, both of which raise my requirements, but it’s not like some sort of niche use case. I track what I eat using an app with a reliable macronutrient database, so the incidental protein is all accounted for. I can assure you that getting anywhere near the recommended amount doesn’t happen by accident, unless I massively blow my calorie budget.
  - drekk 3y ago
    "Cutting" isn't a normal diet. Weight lifters do track their macros more closely to make sure they're getting enough protein on a caloric deficit. It's very easy to starve yourself "the wrong way" while doing it. It's absolutely niche. Of 300 million Americans, during an obesity epidemic, how many do you think are cycling bulking and cutting? It's ridiculously easy to get your recommended daily averages even as a vegetarian without thinking about it. Rice and beans? Complete amino acid profile. Same with bread and butter. But let's get into statistics and leave the anecdata behind us! Most Americans are consuming double their recommended protein intake, but half the fiber: https://www.deseret.com/2024/1/30/24055585/americans-eating-too-much-protein-not-getting-enough-fiber-diet/ https://www.deseret.com/2024/1/30/24055585/americans-eating-...