[Mona]

I just heard recently from a vegetarian (or is he a vegan?... )friend that I should be taking amino acids supplemnts to make up for the lack of animal products in my diet.
I hadn't heard this before, and now I am curious.
Anyone take amino acid supplements?

TIA

 

[Quirky]

I have read in the book The Diet Cure about taking amino acid supplements for various conditions (diabetes, thyroid, etc.) but I have never heard of taking amino acid supplements as a vegetarian, and I've been a vegetarian for 12 years. I wonder if Erin Pavlina would know (she posts here, often on the Good Eating board, and runs www.vegfamily.com).

Intuitively (and this is strictly seat of the pants thinking here) it makes no sense, because there are eight essential amino acids that our bodies don't make, and you can get all of them from eating a well-balanced plant-based diet (even if you're vegan). The thinking used to be that you had to combine plant foods in a meal (beans with grains, for example) but now they know that if you eat a healthy diet your body will take what it needs from what you consume over the course of several days. I believe soy and quinoa are two plant foods that are sources of complete protein, but I could be wrong on that.

I think calcium, iron, and B-12 are more of a concern than protein for anyone who's vegetarian and especially vegan.

A quick google search turned up these:

http://www.vegetarian-diet.info/vege...et-protein.htm

http://www.ivu.org/faq/protein.html

 

[Mona]

Thanks very much Jane. That was very helpful.

 

[bebe luna]

Amino acids can be very beneficial to ones health. The addition of specific amino acids to the diet have been proven to help clear up specific health ailments in certain individuals (ranging from migraines, depression, fatigue, insomnia, and other issues). If you are exercising, especially weight bearing exercises, amino acids are very beneficial for recovery, tissue regeneration, & muscle growth.
If you understand the art of food combining you can get most amino acids from your diet. The only vegetarian food that singly contains all amino acids to make up a complete protien is hemp seeds. Soybeans come close.
I think it can be a wise health choice to supplement w/ a good liquid amino acid formula if you are a vegetarian who is not especially consistant about proper food combining.