Comments on: Are Complementary Proteins Necessary?

By: Josten

Josten — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 02:44:49 +0000

In reply to Lauren.

Hi! By complementary proteins, the article is referring to traditional protein pairing of two foods eaten in combination within a single meal which is the belief that was taught years ago (back when I was in nutrition school, actually). Now, however, we know that while you are correct… a variety of foods IS important…. it is not necessary to consume all of these amino acids within one meal or even a day. It can obviously get quite complex and is boiled down in this post to answer the simple question of my readers as to whether we should be pairing proteins together within a single meatless meal. Thanks for weighing in 🙂

By: Lauren

Lauren — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 16:18:23 +0000

I disagree with the part about complementary proteins being unnecessary. I am currently studying nutrition so I have been reading a it about this lately. Like you said, most plant proteins do contain all nine essential amino acids. However there is this thing called a “limiting amino acid” which is the amino acid that is either supplied in the lowest amount of all of the amino acids in a food, or is completely absent in a food. Also, with protein production in the body, there is this thing called the “all-or-nothing rule,” which means that in order for your cells to synthesize protein, you must have all of the essential amino acids; if you do not have all of the essential amino acids– if even only one is missing– you body will not make protein and will use the amino acids elsewhere. How do these two things connect? This means that your body can only synthesize as much protein as the amount of the limiting amino acid supplied allows… so lets say the proteins you are eating DO contain all of the essential amino acids, but are low in, say, methionine, and you have high amounts of all of the other amino acids. Once your body runs out of that methionine during protein synthesis, you will not be able to make any more protein… even if you have lots of all of the other 8 essential amino acids, no methionine means no protein at all. If you are not eating complementary proteins, yes you may be getting all of the essential amino acids, but the point of complementary proteins is to ensure that you have enough of all of the amino acids to produce an adequate amount of protein in your body without running out of any of the amino acids.

By: Marykay

Marykay — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 03:32:20 +0000

I also appreciate your easy to understand explanation of complete/incomplete proteins. Nutrition information changes – often corrected – through the years. Decades ago combining the proteins, complete/incomplete, HAD to be at the same meal. Looking at food intake for the day makes much better sense & welcoming to accomplish!

By: Irma

Irma — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 02:42:04 +0000

I have been needing this for info for awhile now. Thanks for sharing!