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Comment by Ed Endemano on April 11, 2012 at 8:55pm

Thanks for the reply.  I am glad to hear and read the truth about this matter.  The person espousing the whey protien was selling a whey product that had the "perfect balance of amino acids" for muscle growth.  The McDougal article was very helpful also.  I guess I will have to set my ADD aside and read Original Fast Foods myself instead of relying on my wife. 

Comment by James Simmons on April 11, 2012 at 3:34pm

This is untrue. People often worry more about protein in their diet than any other nutrient so don't feel badly. There are several multi-billion dollar per year industries that each thrive because of common protein myths that these very industries have perpetuated.  

Consider the animal kingdom for just a moment: there is enough protein in plants to grow an elephant, horse, or hippopotamus, and while our protein metabolism is somewhat different than theirs, there is more than enough protein in plant-based sources to grow, repair, and maintain people.

Moreover, research dating clear back to the early 1900s and forward demonstrate that all plants contain all of the amino acids in proper balance for ideal human growth. In other words, it is impossible to make up a diet deficient in protein or individual amino acids from any unrefined starches (rice, potatoes) and vegetables. This common myth is addressed more fully in the book Original Fast Foods. It is important know the truth so that you can comfortably follow a diet that is best for you and your family. The only real problems with protein within our U.S. population come from eating too much. As long as you are meeting your caloric needs with grains, legumes, starchy vegetables, other vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds, it is impossible to design a diet that will not meet your protein needs.

I've written a fair amount on this subject, but allow me to refer the following article to you that is written by a doctor who understands this subject well and who addresses research that might interest you:

A Brief History of Protein: Passion, Social Bigotry, Rats, and Enli...