The Latest thinking on protein
1984
McDougall, John | McDougall, Mary A (Mary Ann)
The minimum amount of protein needed daily is almost impossible to avoid if enough food is consumed to meet daily calorie needs. Rat experiments established that 10 of the amino acids were essential for normal growth of a rat. Later, after a long series of experiments, the amino acid requirement of humans was determined. Because of the large variability among individuals, the requirement for an amino acid was set at double the maximum requirement. Except for young children the needed amino acids can be obtained from plants. Supplementation of a vegetarian diet with amino acids can cause an imbalance of the amino acids. Eating excessive amounts of protein is damaging to health. The kidneys must work harder to eliminate breakdown products in the urine which carry minerals, chiefly calcium, along with it. The net result of this is osteoporosis, a condition in which the bones break easily. The high level of calcium in the kidney system can also contribute to the development of painful kidney stones. High protein foods also contribute to the development of gout. Vegetable products, except for legumes, are lower in protein than animal products and supplies excellent protein when combined with fruit in a starch-centered diet. (emc)
Show more [+] Less [-]AGROVOC Keywords
Bibliographic information
This bibliographic record has been provided by National Agricultural Library