Dan Abel > wrote:
>> The additives such as steroids, etc, notwithstanding, plants can't provide
>> the necessary amounts of protein required by the human body. Also, a
>> sedentary lifestyle also is a major contributing factor, more so than the
>> fats and cholesterol, to CHD. As for cholesterol, the majority of the
>> cholesterol in your system comes from your own liver and not from the
>> dietary intake.
>
> Plant based foods *can* provide the necessary amounts of protein required
> by the human body.

Sorry, that should have been "can not _efficiently_ provide". My bad for
not being clear enough. Animal protein provides a better concentration
of the necessary proteins, as well as other elements such as iron.

> Dried beans, corn, rice and potatoes all contain
> significant amounts of protein.

Partial proteins at best. Potato is starch, rice is a simple
carbohydrate, corn is starch and beans are simple carbohydrates that,
combined with another SCH can provide a complete protein.

> As long as you eat a variety of plant
> protein, you will be OK. If you also eat dairy and eggs, it will be even
> easier to get the correct quality of protein.

Eggs would be considered a meat source.

> If you only eat one kind of
> plant protein, you will have a protein deficiency, since no one plant
> protein has the balance of protein that humans need. No argument on the
> exercise thing. As for cholesterol, last I heard the jury was still out
> on whether dietary cholesterol is a problem for some people.

On this last part, yes, I'm sure that debate's going to be going on for
decades at least <g>. And, yes, it's true that a variety of vegetables
would be required to take in the proteins that are more efficiently
delivered in animal protein.

>> This one makes no comparison that I saw stating that vegetarian was better
>> than non-vegetarian. It merely states that vegetarians can receive adequate
>> nutrition from an "appropriately planned" vegetarian diet. Hardly support
>> for the claim that non-vegetarian is better, since such a conclusion would
>> be non sequitor.
>
> I believe that a vegetarian diet *can* be better for some people. It all
> depends on what you eat!

Yes, it all depends on _what_ is eaten. People who preach the
"vegetarian is better" are only considering one side of the argument and
assuming the conclusions.

> :-)
>
> I ain't giving up my meat, though!

Same here. I did my time as a (brief) vegetarian and, I'm sorry, but the
siren song of the sirloin steak swayed me slowly the surrender...

--
Darryl L. Pierce >
Visit the Infobahn Offramp - <http://bellsouthpwp.net/m/c/mcpierce>
"What do you care what other people think, Mr. Feynman?"