Vegetarian diets are a great source of protein

I found irony in the recommendation by the author of an article in the Health section of the Nov. 6, 2013, Daily Bee. He promoted eating (“preferably grass fed”) meat as the means of “getting strong.” Cows are vegetarian, so it is vegetarian-built bodies that he’d have us eat in order to build our own. Perhaps the strongest bodies come from a vegetarian diet; certainly the strongest hearts do.

Eating more protein does not by itself build muscle. Exercise builds muscle. Only 5-10 percent of our total calories should come from protein. Excess dietary protein cannot be stored as protein, but instead is metabolized and converted into glucose, glycogen and fat. High protein diets are, in fact, unhealthy. Such diets increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and some forms of cancer.

Only exercise builds muscle. Carbohydrates fuel our muscles. The extra dietary protein needed both to repair an athlete’s damaged muscles and to build new muscle can be obtained by a vegetarian or even vegan diet. If you expend 600 calories during a vigorous workout, eat 600 healthy calories — a mix of fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds. These calories will provide needed energy as well as the necessary additional protein.

ROBIN HELM, M.D.

Sandpoint