lack of protein?

Question

i'm a vegetarian and i'm worried that i'm not getting enough protein. my hair stopped growing and i'm losing most of it and someone told me it's because of my lack of protein. is this true? if so, how can i get more protien? (i've tried veggie burgers but i can't seem to aquire a taste for them..yuck)

Answer 1

my hair is ridiculously thick and i've been veggie for over half my life.

the two things are probably unrelated. there are lots of things that cause hair loss.

Answer 2

A large part of the world lives on low protein diets so it is probably something else. Are you getting enough oils? I knew a girl who ate nothing but chicken breast and lettuce with lemon plus an egg every morning. She was told to eat nuts every day and the problem went away.

I don't understand how people make such a drastic change as to go vegetarian after eating a completely different way their whole lives and not educate themselves.

Girl, go get the book BECOMING VEGETARIAN (or VEGAN, whatever you are). If you are still eating dairy and eggs you are NOT suffering from a lack of protein.

Just read about what people's nutritional requirements are, for pete's sake! Check out that book. It'll help you tremendously.

Answer 3

You have fallen prey to the Protien Myth.
The human body needs allot less than what a S.A.D. is promoting.
Here's a super article that should help.

http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2007nl/apr/dairy.htm

Now on the Hair loss it could easily be hormones, Thyroid is 1 that can cause that. Age, Genetics play factors also. It's common to blame being a "Veggie" on everything that goes wrong in our health. Otherside are you eatting a Good Veggie Diet? Being a Healthy Vegetraian means a good balanced diet, no junk, over processed foods, or too many fats, lots of fresh veggies & fruit

Answer 4

The biggest misconception about protien is that you need a lot. Your body naturally produces enough protien just as it produces amino acids. You are geting enough to protien to live a healthy life. The hair growth and loss issue probably has nothing to do with protien and is most likely stress related. If you do feel you need more protien though you can get it through soy, tofu, beans, nuts, legumes, and many other vegtables and grains.

Answer 5

There is alot of brainwashing being done by the meat industry about how much protein we really need. You can get protein from nuts, seeds, peanuts, legumes, beans, lentils, hummus, whole grains, such as quinoa, which is a complete protein. If you eat a handful of nuts a day, or a peanut butter sandwhich, that should supply all you need. My daughter and I have been veggies for years, and our hair is long, thick, curly, shiny, healthy and strong, as are our nails. Sound like you might need to research your nutrional needs a bit, and eat healthier choices.

Answer 6

It's true that you can get all the protein you need from plant sources in a yummy way, but you need to put in an effort into researching what you need and how to cook it. If you didn't already, consult a nutritionist about your diet.

I was a vegetarian a long time ago, and I remember that there is one vitamin that you CANNOT get from any plant source and must be provided by by a supplement (I can't really remember but I think it's B12 complex). My vegan friend who did not get this supplement eventually had to go to the hospital for a deficiency syndrome. Even though they caught this in time, she will always have health problems from now on.

Answer 7

If you are a vegitarian I'm sure you are opposed to eating eggs but these do have good proteins for your hair and nails. Nuts, beans, tofu and various soy options are good too. As for veggie burgers, you might want to try a variety of brands before you completely throw them off your menu plans because they can widely vary in taste. Ketchup and mustard or BBQ sauce help with the taste too.
If your hair is changing, you might want to consider how this also is affecting your hormones..if you are female and want to become pregnant someday you might want to see a doctor to be evaluated for nutrient defficiency or hormonal inbalance. MAny things can play a role in hair loss but protein is a big factor. Also be sure to take a multivitamin because some proteins are best absorbed with other nutrients.

Answer 8

Skip the "veggie burgers" try Falafel or just combining legumes and rices for perfect proteins. Look at vegweb.com for great dietary guidelines and support. I took prenatals for 6 months after turning veg and my hair and nails are terrific! You don't need to take them but they will get you quick results! Good Luck!

Answer 9

Vegans and vegetarians who eat a variety of plant proteins throughout the course of the day should get all of their amino acid needs met. Combining your plant proteins at each meal will ensure that you get all of the essential amino acids every day. Here are some combinations of plant proteins that will provide you with all of the amino acids you need:

Grains plus legumes. Try black beans and rice.
Nuts and seeds plus legumes. Lentil soup with a serving of almonds on the side.
Corn plus legumes. Try pinto beans in a corn tortilla.
There are lots of possible combinations.
Try whole grain pasta tossed with peas, almonds, and your favorite sauce.
Whole wheat toast with peanut butter will give you a complete protein.
Bean soup with whole grain crackers.
Corn tortillas with refried beans and rice.

Answer 10

Eat eggs they are high in protein though some people do not think this is wise because of the cholesterol but i heard of a study that said the cholesterol in eggs is not easily absorbed.