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RoyMustang69
Question:
Is it possible to get by without bread and starchy carbohydrates?
I am a vegetarian, and I really love fruit and veg a lot, but I do not eat potato, pasta, rice and bread. Don't like them and would prefer immensely not to eat them. However, I'm considering adding in some cool cereal like puffed kamut or puffed millet or puffed wheat and the like... I would really NOT like to have to have bread, rice , pasta, or potato in the future, but I know I need to add in a grain of some sort, and the puffed cereals are appealing to me. Is it possible to get by without these other things that most people find so important? I also eat a lot of carrots, pumpkin and sweet potato, which are root vegetables rich in carbohydrates, and I supplement with protein bars. I probably make up for the lack of starch with serves of vegetables and fruits! Is this sustainable or am I only running the risk for iron deficiency anemia (eventually) and possibly a zinc deficiency as well?
thanks!
Asked by RoyMustang69 - 5 answers - 25 weeks 3 days ago
why_not_fandy
Get by, sure. If you get your carbohydrates (CHO) from somewhere else (fruits) then you're fine. You actually don't 'need' CHO in the diet. Your liver can convert amino acids into glucose, but it taxes your liver. Remember, your body needs glucose. The only energy source that RBCs and nervous tissues can use is glucose, so keep that in mind.
Submitted 25 weeks 2 days ago by why_not_fandyMartinM
It is most certainly possible to do and in my opinion is a good step for most people. If you eat sweet potato and fruit as well as well as adding in one of the cereals mentioned that is by far enough carbohydrate you are getting. If you also eat plenty of vegetables you can easily meet your iron and zinc needs. Obviously red meat is a great source of iron but a number of vegetables have good quantities of iron and zinc. Peppers (sweet), mushrooms and parsley all contain iron and zinc.
With regards to the above comment on 'taxes the liver' that is a controversial statement that is pretty much unfounded.
Submitted 24 weeks 5 days ago by MartinMRoyMustang69
Really? that's awesome.. thanks for your feedback! My mother (who know's jack about nutrition) annoys me all the time with comments about not eating rice and pasta and potato and how that's bad etc... and according to my knowledge (I've read alot but I'm last year high school so not qualified, but I've read every single nutrition book I can get my mits on about three times each!), I thought I can get by without bread and rice and pasta and potato... so I'm glad I have some positive support from you! which vegetables are higher in zinc though? because I have trouble healing and fighting infections sometimes and I may not be eating the right vegetables, or maybe I should take a zinc supplement as well... what do you think? And what about the nutritional properties of bean sprouts like mung bean sprouts and chickpea sprouts and lentil sprouts? What nutrients are they rich in? Are they suitable for a replacement of eating the mature bean seeds (if you eat enough of the sprouts)?
Submitted 24 weeks 5 days ago by RoyMustang69why_not_fandy
poor wording on my part I suppose. gluconeogenesis from amino acids does not 'harm' the liver if that was how you read it. I simply meant to point out that it is an innefficient process.
Submitted 24 weeks 3 days ago by why_not_fandyjim_transue
As far as Zinc, kiwi and blackberries have significant amounts. Also consider seeds. Pumpkin seeds are relatively high in zinc. Other sources are whole grains, green leafy vegetables, mushrooms, nuts, tahini, legumes, tofu, miso, wheat germ, and nutritional yeast. That should give you something to eat!
You might consider seeds and nuts as a general staple. They are amazingly concentrated packages of protein, carbs, and fat. If you think in terms of "paleolithic vegan runners" ;-), nuts would have been very valuable.
Submitted 21 weeks 1 day ago by jim_transue