With the increase in the number of people who are switching to a vegetarian lifestyle the propaganda from the animal products industry is bringing a lot of misinformation into the public eye. We are told that you can't get enough protein from vegetables. We are told that you can't get enough vitamin B12. The list goes on and on.

Bottom line; If a vegetarian eats enough calories to meet their need for energy, they will have everything they need except for perhaps B12 and the verdict is pending on that as well.

Did you ever wonder how a cow or horse can get enough protein on a diet of grass?

The fact is that you cannot use protein as protein. You cannot meet your protein needs by eating protein whether it comes from an animal or from a plant. We are not equipped to use any complete protein in it protein form... Our protein has to come in the form of amino acids. If it is not in that form our bodies have to break it down into amino acids before we can use it.

Each protein is made up of amino acids. Each different tissue has its own set of amino acids. So if you eat, say a chuck roast, you will not have a complete set of amino acids. The truth is that you get more complete protein in the form of amino acids from lettuce than you do from beef stake.

All other vitamins, with the possible exception of B12 are abundantly met with a varied diet of fruit and vegetables.

Let us look at B12

We produce no B12 ourselves. If we eat a healthy diet, without toxic chemicals that kill friendly bacteria, the bacteria living in our digestive track produce more B12 than we need on our behalf. If you drink chlorinated water or cook too much of your food, or do too much to clean the food it is possible to destroy the friendly bacteria. That is the only way you can become deficient in B12.

The truth is that those who say we vegetarians are risking our health by not eating animal products, either don't know what they are saying, or they are lying.

We are supposed to be weaned by the time we are three years old so we have no need for milk products after that age. We need less than 5% protein in our diet, Fruit has over 5% protein. Vegetables have over 5% protein, Nuts and seeds are an excellent source of protein. All these sources of protein have it in the form of Amino acids, so it is ready to use without breaking it down.

Beans like soy are a plant source of protein that is hard for humans to digest and use. There are predigested soy products like tofu that use bacteria and enzymes to break the protein down and make it usable.