livedarklions

Stick to we need to eat protein. Everything else in that post is incorrect. Humans produce 11 amino acids. Microbes produce others, and some are produced by plants. Protein synthesis requires amino acids, some of which we need to obtain through diet. But your terminology and description of protein synthesis is all wrong.

We're not disagreeing about the dietary need for protein, but you're way over your skis when you try to explain why. Humans and animals are not just concentrating proteins, they're synthesizing proteins that aren't found in plants. For some reason, you're confounding synthesizing amino acids with synthesizing proteins. Amino acids aren't themselves proteins, they're precursors. The post you were supposedly correcting was not wrong when it said that we synthesize our own proteins, and it specifically referred to one very good vegetable source of amino acids.

If all you want to say is that you can't get all the essential amino acids on a diet consisting entirely of carbs and fats, fine. But you really don't need to make false claims to support that.

phughes

Has anyone mentioned riding with your mouth open to catch the bugs?

CAT7RDR

I was stung once on the upper gum by a bee. Learned my lesson about free protein while riding.

aclinjury

been on a "mostly" vegan diet for almost a decade now. I say "mostly" because about 3-4 times a month, i'll go out with friends/relatives and sometimes it's hard to order food that's completly vegan, so I'll order a small portion of fish/seafood pasta and order extra pasta to fill me up. Haven't chicken, goat, pork, beef, turkey for a decade, and frankly I can't their smell anymore, and my body can't process those meat anymore because of down-regulation of the enzymes involved in meat metabolism.

Let's just say i'm more ripped than all the guys eating meat that I know. I'm also stronger then all of them on the bike, including both aerobic and anaerobic power. And of course I'm also lighter than all of them (5'7, 123 lbs). I have been hearing the sentence "you need protein" or "where do you get your protein" for the last decade now. It's gotten to the point that if anyone ask me these questions, I'll challenge them to a "body weight" weightlifting session and an "endurance" challenge (be it cycling or running). If they can beat me in all those, then I'll consider ditching my vegan diet, if they can't then they shut up asking me about protein.

To date, none have succeeded. In fact, a few of them even asked me for advice about a balance vegan diet because they want to change. Go figure eh. Nothing like clean blood flowing like a teenager. Nothing like getting an erection for the whole night on a daily that your gf is scared to go to bed with you. You don't get that sort of erection unless you're a 20something stallion, or on roids, or your blood vessels are clean.

wolfchild

Any idea where I can get some ??….I heard there is some mammoths buried under the arctic ice in Siberia. Maybe one day science will be able to clone some and then we can all have some mammoth burgers.

indyfabz

Try Hot Springs, SD. It may have some stashed away. Payed a visit during a bike tour in the Black Hills area.

https://www.mammothsite.org/

caloso

In my experience, eating a lot of lentils results in a significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions, at least locally.

I-Like-To-Bike

Maybe. Another possibility is the idea of needing a protein drink after a ride is probably promulgated by pros needing something convenient to get easy cash into their pocket.

genejockey 

But it's not Fossil Fuel, unless you're real old.

Happy Feet

The argument about whether we create our own proteins or not reminds me of a similar one about organic manure and fertilizer salts in Horticulture college back when organic was being introduced as a marketing ploy. Basically, the plant does not care what source the NPK comes from. It's all absorbed by the plant as an ionic compound.

Similarly, our bodies do not care where the amino acids come from - plant or animal product. The body makes no distinction either way.

In digestion all sources are all broken down into amino acids that are then synthesized into human proteins at the cellular level. Once it passes the gut barrier it is neither animal or plant protein.

The only benefit eating animal based protein allows is that all essential amino acids (to the resultant process of human protein creation) are present in one package. That is all.

In some cases, two or more plant sources must be combined to provide all the essential amino acids. Hence, beans and rice, lentils and rice etc... However, both soy and whey contain all the amino acids needed for protein synthesis.

When you understand this, and given that if you choose a vegetarian, rather than vegan diet, the availability of complete amino acid sources goes way up (milk, eggs, cheese) the argument that one needs to either eat vast quantities of plant based foods or meat based proteins for athletic performance falls flat. It's truly a non issue.

Societal, spiritual and environmental influences aside:
If you are primarily plant based, your concerns are eating enough sources of complete amino acids aka complete proteins.
If you are primarily meat based, your concerns are accumulated heavy metal toxicity, hormone or antibiotic additives, heart and bowel disease.

AlmostTrick

Ninety-seven percent of Americans eat the recommended amount of protein, while Just 5% of Americans eat enough fiber.

It seems the far more relevant question is "How do you get enough fiber?"

https://www.realclearscience.com/blo...ican_diet.html

wolfchild

Protein deficiency doesn't exist, I never heard of anybody developing health problems because of not eating enough protein. I blame the fitness industry especially the bodybuilding culture for promoting protein supplements and for spreading lies and misinformation on how much protein we should be eating.

Flip Flop Rider

maybe vegetarians don't get enough?

Clyde1820

At least two basic meals daily, often three; and at least a couple of protein-rich "snacks" in between (mini-meals). Four to five smaller meals/snacks, altogether, and generally 25-30gr protein in them.

At each sitting, there's a decent amount of protein in what I consume, along with moderate amounts of fat. Whey protein, whole-milk yogurt, legumes, beans, cheese, nuts/seeds, fish, some meats. Myself, I shoot for ~120gr+/daily, for protein. The fats/proteins (of course) provide longer-lasting fuels, and the more carb-rich a given meal or snack is where it works better for harder-intensity activities. (What carbs I do tend to be lots of vegetables, some fruits, and "complex" carbs; little to no manufactured/added sugar to speak of, other than dairy and the rare mfd/packaged ingredient I use.)

Though, I'm near 'senior' status and, with old injuries to boot, as such don't seem to push higher-intensity stints much. Might not work for others, but it works fairly well for me.

One go-to for me: a "blend" consisting of avocado, walnuts or almonds, chia seeds and/or flax seeds, whey powder, whole-milk yogurt, pomegranate juice, mixed berries or blueberries, "nut" milk, blended smooth. (Makes several servings.) Works out to about ~300-400cals and 30-40gr protein per serving, depending on ingredients, dialing-up the carbs for higher-intensity activities and dialing-down for when I want protein+fat heavy for longer-lasting fuel. A "light" meal, but works nicely.

Troul 

by buying more carbon products.

Mulberry20

I am more concerned with the type and mix of amino acids. That is the whole point not just the level of crude protein that is consumed.

I-Like-To-Bike

I heard that there is a special type and mix of amino acids for those cyclists concerned about such issues. It is found only in a special powder formulated by Old World foodie artisans and brewed in a laboratory in a small Italian village by wizened old craftsman using techniques known only to them.

downhillmaster

Recreational cycling is not an endurance sport by definition.
I highly doubt anyone on BF is in danger of not getting enough proteins based solely upon the intensity of their cycling.
Any reason you decided to post this here?

livedarklions

Uh, no, not by definition. One can definitely engage in endurance sport recreationally. I'm pretty sure that's a really good description of my riding, actually. You have a very odd dictionary.

I do need extra protein as a result, but I have no problem obtaining it through diet.

Mulberry20

You are learning.....

downhillmaster

That’s good to know that you ride so hard that you are in danger of not getting enough proteins

livedarklions

A. I'm 59 years old, there's a natural tendency towards muscle loss as we age.

B. I ride more than 200 miles a week for much of the year. Most of that riding is, as you say, hard.

C. If I ate protein at "normal" RDA levels doing that at my age, I'm quite sure I wouldn't be able to sustain that level of riding over those kind of distances as I would likely lose muscle mass doing so.

D. I'm quite sure you know absolutely nothing about that kind of riding.

Maelochs

Pretty sure that goes well beyond what most people would call, "recreational."

That's essentially riding all three Grands Tours in a season..... seems to stretch the definition .... (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recreation) recreation :
rec·​re·​a·​tion | \ ˌre-krē-ˈā-shən \
refreshment of strength and spirits after work

Seems to me you're doing a lot of work and would need a lot of refreshment of strength and spirits after that much "recreational" riding.

In any case, I'd say you've earned your extra ration of amino acid compounds.

indyfabz

There is an ignore list feature on this site. Might want to save yourself some time and use it. Then again, you would miss some entertainment.

downhillmaster

You are able to find the time to ride 200 miles per week.
That’s very cool and makes you special.
I mix my limited off time with riding and playing hockey. I am 55 and ran hard for 2.5 hours yesterday playing street hockey with mostly 30 year olds.
I eat a normal amount of proteins, do not lose muscle mass, and am pretty sure you know nothing about that.