I strongly believe in the power of a plant-based diet and understand why some people want to be vegetarians. Just about everyone could benefit from eating more fresh vegetables and fruits (in moderation). Most people today who call themselves vegetarians are not true vegetarians, because they also eat some kinds of animal protein, such as eggs or fish. There is a lot of evidence that suggests a modified vegetarian diet that includes clean animal sources of protein is extremely healthy. Combining the Bible’s Old Testament vegetarian guidelines in Genesis 1:29 with the clean meats (a.k.a. Kosher guidelines in Leviticus 11) may well be the long-sought-after fountain of youth.
Most vegetarians have multiple nutrient deficiencies, including protein. They often rely on low protein sources that do not provide enough of the right combinations of essential amino acids to allow them to thrive. Many vegetarians end up eating grains instead of meats, which further exacerbates the problems. Educated vegetarian food combining can provide a good mix of EAAs but generally necessitates far too many carbohydrates into their diet. Blindly mixing various foods is not ideal. Most vegetarians are not strict and also eat eggs, dairy, and/or fish, which can go a long way toward supplying much needed protein, EAAs, and other vital nutrients, such as fish oil EPA/DHA.
However, for just about everyone, especially strict vegetarians, to obtain Super Health, it is my belief that functional superfoods, such as optimized plant protein powders and essential amino acids, are critical to health and longevity. A word of caution: Infants, children, and young adults should not consume strict vegetarian diets or be on long-term calorie-restricted diets because it can stunt their growth and cause long-term health problems. Neither should pregnant and nursing mothers.
Food is a double-edged sword. The combining of various plant foods from different categories (vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds) can still result in a suboptimal amount of protein, varied amounts of EAAs, and unhealthy levels of carbohydrates. Mindlessly or methodically combining of various plant foods generally does not ensure optimal amounts of EAAs. It is critical for strict vegetarians to supplement with optimized plant protein powders and EAAs.
