lol that reminds me of a futurama episode..

Farnsworth: "Hey! Unless this is a nude love-in... get the hell off my property!"
Free Waterfall Junior: "You can't own property, man."
Farnsworth: "I can. But that's because I'm not a penniless hippie."
Leela: "What do you people want?"
Free Waterfall Junior: "We're with mankind for ethical animal treatment. Popplers are living creatures. You got to stop harvesting them for food."
Bender: "Or what?"
Free Waterfall Junior: "Or we'll boycott Fishy Joe's."
Leela: "You're vegetarians. Who cares what you do?"
Free Waterfall Junior: "Shut up!"
Leela: "Animals eat other animals. It's nature."
Free Waterfall Junior: "No it isn't. We taught a lion to eat tofu."
Lion: *cough* *pause* *cough*
(download 274kb)

You are wrong. 100% wrong. There are Vegetarian athletes on many levels. From the USDA, about as biased a organization towards promoting animal products that there is:

Vegetarian diets can meet all the recommendations for nutrients. The key is to consume a variety of foods and the right amount of foods to meet your calorie needs. Follow the food group recommendations for your age, sex, and activity level to get the right amount of food and the variety of foods needed for nutrient adequacy. Nutrients that vegetarians may need to focus on include protein, iron, calcium, zinc, and vitamin B12.

MyPyramid.gov - United States Department of Agriculture - Home

even with soy or combining rice and beans to create a complete protein the array of amino acids is sourly lacking compared to any animal source of protein. also the number of calories that need to be eaten of these vegetable proteins to meet the right number of grams per day for growing children or athletes is imposible to meet. yes there are vegan athletes 1 was on a team of mine he had problems keeping muscle weight on and was ill often we all ride 200 to 300 miles a week and his dietary choices caused problems for him.these athletes are selling there possible performances short by eating in this way as strength or endurance athletes. i have spent thousands of hours studying diet and nutrition for over 10 years and i have to disagree with you on athlete needs in particular when strength or endurance is involved

Is the USDA lying just to promote Vegetarianism?

If you are going to ignore the facts and come to an opinion based solely on your research there is apparently nothing anyone can say to change your mind.

Here is a long distance vegetarian biker to explain away as well. Journey of Discovery - Vegetarian Cross-country Bicycle Bike Tour Across America

yes true i do my own reasearch and test on my own organism (me) and these are my thoughts and conclusions as applied to my own body. as an athlete. i stopped eating red meat for six months and got quite anemic and unwell lost muscle mass and had lower male hormone levels and had chronic fatigue my body b-blood type needs high quality animal protein to function as an athlete and my mental state also suffers when this is excluded from my diet this is what i know for me. to each his own. testosterone production is amplified by saturated fat and cholesterol intake from diet you will never see a vegan body builder at the highest level) different bodies respond differently i have read hundreds of studies from all sides. as far as the usda is concerned i do not advocate or endorse there studies same as i do not support pharmacutical companies there studies are biased the current food pyramid is hilarious if you have even a vague understanding of nutrition. i dont know why you think i endorse or care what big bussines says i dont. i do not plagerize and all my thoughts and oppinions are my own through testing and studying on my self and my family. i take this subject very serious and have been studying this for a long time because it is my life and well being. i have not said anyone is absolutely wrong whether i think they are or not so i would appreciate the same in return i am not an unintelligent person and assume you also are not. the truth is somwhere in the middle but please dont say im absolutely wrong that is un-needed

vegetarians can eat complete proteins from animals if you read my posts in detail you will see i said nothing about vegetarian athletes only vegans there is no need for animosity because you disagree but please dont miss qoute me

i will leave it at this in my oppinion the best diets for most humans involves whole fruits and vegetables whole unprocessed grains and free range organically fed animals that are healthy and active this is the proper diet for our species regarding are needs genetically as a predatory oppurtunistic organism. if a person chooses to be vegan it is for the sake of not killing animals there is no health benefit going past being vegetarian im sorry but this is simple fact. i will try not to respond anymore on this subject peace

Again you are 100% wrong. It isn't that I disagree with you, but that the entire nutritional world says you are wrong. Seriously, your thinking is very outdated. It sounds like you are relying on information from the 60's and 70's. The ADA also says you are wrong. Even the damn Canadians say you are wrong:

It is the position of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada that appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Approximately 2.5% of adults in the United States and 4% of adults in Canada follow vegetarian diets. A vegetarian diet is defined as one that does not include meat, fish or fowl. Interest in vegetarianism appears to be increasing, with many restaurants and college foodservices offering vegetarian meals routinely. Substantial growth in sales of foods attractive to vegetarians has occurred, and these foods appear in many supermarkets. This position paper reviews the current scientific data related to key nutrients for vegetarians, including protein, iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin D, riboflavin, vitamin B-12, vitamin A, n-3 fatty acids and iodine. A vegetarian, including vegan, diet can meet current recommendations for all of these nutrients. In some cases, use of fortified foods or supplements can be helpful in meeting recommendations for individual nutrients. Well-planned vegan and other types of vegetarian diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood and adolescence. Vegetarian diets offer a number of nutritional benefits, including lower levels of saturated fat, cholesterol, and animal protein as well as higher levels of carbohydrates, fiber, magnesium, potassium, folate, and antioxidants such as vitamins C and E and phytochemicals. Vegetarians have been reported to have lower body mass indices than nonvegetarians, as well as lower rates of death from ischemic heart disease; vegetarians also show lower blood cholesterol levels; lower blood pressure; and lower rates of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and prostate and colon cancer. Although a number of federally funded and institutional feeding programs can accommodate vegetarians, few have foods suitable for vegans at this time. Because of the variability of dietary practices among vegetarians, individual assessment of dietary intakes of vegetarians is required. Dietetics professionals have a responsibility to support and encourage those who express an interest in consuming a vegetarian diet. They can play key roles in educating vegetarian clients about food sources of specific nutrients, food purchase and preparation, and any dietary modifications that may be necessary to meet individual needs. Menu planning for vegetarians can be simplified by use of a food guide that specifies food groups and serving sizes.

Vegetarian Diets

Excellent response Picasso345.

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i will again say you are missquoting me clearly you are not even reading what i have wrote i said early in my posts that being a vegetarian can be perfectly healthy because milk and eggs are involved which are complete animal proteins. simply put being vegan is a bad choice for human health this is simple fact if you understand nutrition. if you dont want to kill animals i respect that but being vegan is a poor health choice there are no benefits going past being vegetarian. you can throw studies at me all day long i have been reading and studying this for years. i at least speak in my own words and can explain myself through my own thoughts. if you think im arguing about being vegetaian your wrong like i have said a number of times vegetarian diets can be complete. a vegan diet cannot be im sorry if this is upsetting to you no need for animosity man