[jaworrom]

Great question! Here are a few that come to mind:

- Animal protein is superior to plant-based protein if you consider the natural amino acid profile. Plant-based protein simply lacks several amino acids and many sources aren't "complete" proteins. - Vitamin B12 is essential for the body and found almost exclusively animal proteins. A Vitamin B12 deficiency can be serious over time and lead to some nasty side effects. Of course, you can always supplement Vitamin B12 and eat fortified foods. My personal preference is to get as much vitamins and minerals from my diet. - Satiety. Animal proteins simply tend to be more satiating (at least for me). - Calorie content. It's really difficult to eat the calories needed on a vegan diet. A massive calorie deficit (especially long-term) can wreak havoc on your hormone profile and bring about a number of other health issues. - Animal overpopulation. If we don't hunt certain species of animals periodically, they'll overpopulate. Hunting keeps nature at a healthy balance of which the available habitat can support. The hunting license fees also support wildlife conservation so that we can protect wild animals and their natural habitats. frnkng mentioned wild boars... they serve as a great example of the threat to pose to farms, because they damage acres and acres of crops.

With that said, my diet varies throughout the week. I'll have moderate amounts of meat for a few days and then I'll switch to plant-based proteins for a few days. I find that it's better on my digestive system.

[dennis_jeeves]

>Animal protein is superior to plant-based protein if you consider the natural amino acid profile. Plant-based protein simply lacks several amino acids and many sources aren't "complete" proteins. - Vitamin B12 is essential for the body and found almost exclusively animal proteins.

This really is the wrong way to argue.

So what was the situation before we developed tests to detect amino acids and Vitamin B12? Did vegans get to correctly argue that nutritionally plants were equivalent to animal foods? No.

Well they still incorrectly argue based on what you said that all that one needs to do be successful vegan is to eat a variety, take some b12 and some protein power and the nutritional aspect is taken care off, They can also they can argue that plants contain useful compounds not found in animal foods, how do you you argue?

My point being that must ultimately look at the health outcome of each food group experimentally.

[jaworrom]

I'm not here to argue. Simply offering my perspective per the OP's request. That does not take away from the fact that almost all plant-based protein sources lack "complete" proteins with all of the essential amino acids that the body needs for cellular repair/regeneration. There are plenty of long-term studies that underscore this.

I am not challenging the merits of vegetables, as I realize they are absolutely essential for optimal health. One needs at least a moderate source of protein and fats with a plentiful source of vegetables to support a healthy metabolism.

[dennis_jeeves]

>I'm not here to argue

No I didn't saying you were arguing (in the negative sense of the word). I meant argue as in, argue a case, which has a neutral connotation.

>One needs at least a moderate source of protein and fats with a plentiful source of vegetables to support a healthy metabolism.

How do you know? Because research/science said so?

Empirically, infact many people have lots of digestive problems with vegetables. Some health problems AFAIK believe can be reliably traced to excess consumption of some vegetables.

Do you see where I'm going with this?