Vegetarian Nutrition Program

If you do not eat meat, you can still get plenty of protein from plant sources such as nuts and legumes. There is a catch. Amino acids are needed for protein synthesis. Proteins are biochemical molecules that contain chains of amino acids. Protein can help repair and create tissue (including muscle), is used to make hormones and enzymes, and is a building block for everything from cartilage and bones to hair and nails. Because our bodies use protein in so many ways, getting enough through your diet not only helps to give your body what it needs but is essential for overall health.

But not all protein contains the same amino acids, which is why you might have heard about “complete” and “incomplete” proteins. Overall, there are twenty different kinds of amino acids, eleven of which our bodies can produce on their own. The other nine, called “essential amino acids,” we can only get through diet, supplementation, or a combination of the two. A complete protein is one that contains all nine of those amino acids that our bodies need: histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine. An incomplete protein is one that does not contain all nine of those essential amino acids. Beans, specific nuts, and tofu are a couple of examples of incomplete protein sources, so eating those foods alone for protein will not give you all the amino acids your body needs. 

Animal proteins provide the amino acids in the quantities that your body needs. Vegetarians and vegans can get enough protein to maintain their current lean mass if they plan their daily meals. It’s hard for the body to build new lean muscle, just using plant-based proteins without taking your daily carbs to high.  Plant foods, except for soy, are low in amino acids.

With Body Comp Biometrics,  we have assigned extra BCAA’s (Supplement Form) into your nutrition program to bind the incomplete proteins together so we can suppress the total carbs in your diet, This way you are less likely to store the overflow of glycogen as fats if you are unable to burn them off during you daily activity.

It is important for vegetarians to eat a variety of plant foods daily including whole grains, cereals, legumes, nuts, and vegetables. A vegetarian diet focuses on plants for food. These include fruits, vegetables, dried beans and peas, grains, seeds, and nuts.

There is no single type of vegetarian diet. Instead, vegetarian eating patterns usually fall into the following groups:

• The vegan diet, which excludes all meat and animal products
• The Lacto vegetarian diet, which includes plant foods plus dairy products
• The Lacto-Ovo vegetarian diet, which includes both dairy products and eggs
• People who follow vegetarian diets can get all the nutrients they need. However, they must be careful to eat a wide variety of foods to meet their nutritional needs. Nutrients vegetarians may need to focus on include protein, iron, calcium, zinc and vitamin B12.