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Milo Frey wrote: > In response to your note on 7/8, I would like to say that Dorothy has > been a vegan for about the past 3 years after reading an article on > animal vs plant protein in a Parkinson=92s newsletter. She firmly beli= eves > that this helps her manage her PD symptoms. >=20 > I am concerned that we get enough of the right protein with our > vegetarian diet. Lavon J. Dunne=92s NUTRITION ALMANAC 3rd Ed discusses > protein. It states that =93most vegetables and fruits are > incomplete-protein foods. To obtain a complete-protein meal from > incomplete proteins, one must combine foods carefully so that those wea= k > in an essential amino acid will be balanced by those adequate in the sa= me > amino acid.=94 This raises the question of what plants, if any, are > complete-protein foods? How can we know what combination of > incomplete-protein foods will result in a complete-protein meal? >=20 > Milo Frey [log in to unmask] Dear Mr. Frey, Thanks for your response, I am delighted that your wife is finding PD=20 easier to manage with use of plant protein. Regarding your first=20 question: Soy is commonly considered to be the only significant plant=20 source of complete protein, though quinoa has a fairly complete amino=20 acid profile, too.=20 You second question about combining incomplete-protein foods can be=20 answered differently now than it was a few years ago. It was previously=20 believed that plant foods must be combined at the same meal to provide=20 complete protein. That has now been revised. As long as you get servings=20 from cereal, vegetable, and fruit groups daily, including some from=20 nuts, seeds, and cooked dried beans, you will get complete protein even=20 if they are not consumed at the same meal. However, proteins are so=20 widely distributed that it would actually be difficult NOT to get at=20 least a small amount of complete protein at every meal. Breakfast might be fruit juice, oatmeal, raisins and toast. Lunch could=20 be bean soup with crackers and soy milk. Dinner could be a handful of=20 raw nuts, cooked rice, several vegetables, and herb tea. Except for=20 breakfast, you would get complete protein throughout the day. I would add one note of caution, though. With PD, it can be very=20 difficult to get an adequate nutrient profile. And with a vegan diet, it=20 is quite possible to become deficient in B12. If your wife is not=20 already doing so, I would strongly recommend she ask her physician about=20 the advisability of using B12 supplements. In fact, a B complex might be=20 a good idea as well. And it can be very difficult to get adequate=20 calcium without use of dairy products. If your wife is post-menopausal=20 I'd check with the physician about calcium supplements. PD sometimes=20 engenders a sedentary lifestyle; combined with inadequate calcium (and=20 the vitamin D in fortified milk and in sunlight) it is quite possible to=20 produce weakening of the bones. In short, I am far less concerned with her protein intake than with=20 possible deficiencies of the B vitamins, and vitamins A & D, as well as=20 calcium. While there are conditions which do not warrant use of=20 supplements, your physician can guide you in this matter. I would also=20 ask for a referral to a registered dietitian, who can examine a one-day=20 diet record and determine whether your wife is receiving adequate=20 nutrients. Please let me know if this has been of benefit to you. Best regards, --=20 Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD Editor-in-Chief, "Spotlight on Food--nutrition news for people 60-plus" Tel: 970-493-6532 Fax: 970-493-6538=20 http://www.fortnet.org/~fivstar You may wish to contact: Better Business Bureau of the Mountain States, < [log in to unmask]> for further information.