Comments on: Protein https://veganhealth.org/protein-part-2/ Evidence-Based Nutrient Recommendations Sat, 02 May 2026 18:54:25 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 By: JackNorrisRD https://veganhealth.org/protein-part-2/#comment-5680 Sat, 02 May 2026 18:54:25 +0000 https://veganhealth.org/?page_id=671#comment-5680 In reply to Merete Teudt.

Merete,

> does the overall ratio of amino acids matter?

No, it doesn’t.

]]> By: Merete Teudt https://veganhealth.org/protein-part-2/#comment-5678 Fri, 01 May 2026 10:06:42 +0000 https://veganhealth.org/?page_id=671#comment-5678 The year is 2026 and I am still seeing advice about protein combining. If I get plenty of the most limiting amino acid, does the overall ratio of amino acids matter? Like let’s say I ate a lot of seitan, would the much higher amounts of the other amino acids somehow impair my ability to utilise the lysine?

]]> By: JackNorrisRD https://veganhealth.org/protein-part-2/#comment-5654 Sun, 22 Feb 2026 05:30:00 +0000 https://veganhealth.org/?page_id=671#comment-5654 In reply to Dan.

Dan,
You’re right, it looks like I forgot to double the amount of each amino acid in 1 slice of whole-wheat bread. I’m sorry for the inconvenience it caused you (and anyone else).

I could no longer find the exact entries (or they’ve changed the amounts) in the USDA database, so I’ve replaced the numbers and extrapolated the protein and amino acid amounts in whole-wheat bread from whole-wheat flour. I’ve linked them to the entries in the USDA database in the spreadsheet.

]]> By: Dan https://veganhealth.org/protein-part-2/#comment-5653 Fri, 20 Feb 2026 14:57:41 +0000 https://veganhealth.org/?page_id=671#comment-5653 Hi! The Protein and Amino Acids google sheet shows “Bread–whole wheat” as having 7 grams of protein, and “Spaghetti–whole wheat” with 8 grams of protein. But then the amino acids of the latter are roughly twice that of the former (e.g. 175 mg of Histidine for the Spaghetti, but 78 mg for the Bread) . That doesn’t seem like it can be right.

]]> By: JackNorrisRD https://veganhealth.org/protein-part-2/#comment-5596 Sun, 19 Oct 2025 01:25:58 +0000 https://veganhealth.org/?page_id=671#comment-5596 In reply to Torin Doyle.

Torin,
Most vegans don’t need to use protein powder. You might use an app to calculate how much protein you get on most days to be certain that you’re meeting your needs which I’d assume to be about 1.1 g/kg of body weight.

]]> By: Torin Doyle https://veganhealth.org/protein-part-2/#comment-5592 Fri, 17 Oct 2025 13:04:03 +0000 https://veganhealth.org/?page_id=671#comment-5592 Hey Jack.

I’m never sure if I need Protein Powder or not [currently I use a half a scoop of mixed pea & rice PP]. I’m a bit concerned about the lead issue.
I eat decent protein sources like a tin of baked beans every day for lunch, lentils and more legumes in curry 4 days a week, oatmeal with soymilk every day, 4 Linda McCartney Sausages a week [over 2 dinners], etc.

I go walking 6 days a week for about 30 minutes. I do pushups 6 days pw, a small amount of dumb bell weights 3 days pw.

I’d like your thoughts.

Thank you.

]]> By: JackNorrisRD https://veganhealth.org/protein-part-2/#comment-5445 Wed, 12 Jun 2024 20:44:04 +0000 https://veganhealth.org/?page_id=671#comment-5445 In reply to Hayley.

Thank you for your kind words. I hope your gallstones improve—good luck!

]]> By: Hayley https://veganhealth.org/protein-part-2/#comment-5444 Wed, 12 Jun 2024 20:40:53 +0000 https://veganhealth.org/?page_id=671#comment-5444 In reply to JackNorrisRD.

Thanks Jack. I’m a (mostly WFPB) vegan who gets cold sores and I’ve been taking lysine for years. I’ve only recently discovered the gallstones issue after finding out through a routine ultrasound that I have loads of small gallstones. I’m hoping by not supplementing with lysine anymore they will go away. Hopefully I can keep the cold sores at bay by upping lysine from food instead. Thanks for all you do. This site is one of my most trusted sources of unbiased vegan health info. I really appreciate it.

]]> By: JackNorrisRD https://veganhealth.org/protein-part-2/#comment-5443 Wed, 12 Jun 2024 20:35:20 +0000 https://veganhealth.org/?page_id=671#comment-5443 In reply to Hayley.

Hayley,

I think it would only be people carrying Herpes simplex who are more prone to cold sores (if vegan). Here’s information from Medical News today about the side effects of lysine supplementation. I don’t recommend supplementing with lysine in order to meet daily lysine needs—I’d recommend obtaining it from food (or a moderate amount of a general protein supplement).

]]> By: Hayley https://veganhealth.org/protein-part-2/#comment-5442 Mon, 10 Jun 2024 20:11:06 +0000 https://veganhealth.org/?page_id=671#comment-5442 As vegans maybe be more prone to cold sores due to the arginine lysine intake, some may choose to supplement with lysine. But we need to be careful with this, as excess lysine supplementation can cause gallstones, and kidney problems. I think it’s worth vegans being aware of this.

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