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Emma Thackery

In article >,
(Steve Pope) wrote:

> Emma Thackery > wrote:
>
> > Julia Altshuler > wrote:
>
> >> When Lappe came out with _Diet For A Small Planet_, she made it sound
> >> like exact protein combining was necessary or deficiencies would result.
> >> In later editions of the book, she updated her information. If you're
> >> getting rice and beans over the course of a week, you're getting
> >> complementary proteins. They don't have to be eaten at the same meal.
>
> >I'm so glad you covered this because most of the (casual) things I've
> >read lately say that the combo directive is a total myth based on no
> >fact whatsoever.
>
> It is by no means a myth that you need a sufficient intake of
> essential amino acids to avoid diseases like pellagra.
>
> >The general impression I get from my informal readings
> >is that as long as otherwise healthy people eat a very diverse diet
> >(whether vegetarian or not), we won't have much to worry about.
>
> Yes, but this is true because a diverse vegetarian diet has the
> effect of combining various protein sources into complete protein.

What I was (sloppily) commenting on was the mistaken notion that the
exact combination of proteins must be taken in at the same *meal*. Same
day appears to be adequate. And also, many people seem to assume that a
vegetarian diet has no sources of complete proteins and, of course, that
is incorrect. There are significant non-meat sources of complete
proteins.

Emma