Proteins in vegetables
In the wealthy countries, high-quality proteins are produced in concentrated form and to this end, animals are used as virtual factories. But it is not necessary to eat meat, eggs or dairy products to stay healthy.
The Japanese get a large percentage of their proteins from soya beans and other vegetables. Some primitive tribes are eating leaves, berries, insects and even clays, all of which are rich in nutrients.
Overspecialization
But countries specializing in agricultural products for export to world markets are facing a dreadful monotony in their diets, which dangerously affects their health.
For example, some parts of Latin America produce almost nothing but coffee, while others grow mainly bananas or sugar cane. In many Central American nations, governmental policies have encouraged the production of cash crops like cotton, at the expense of food crops. Many Central Americans' diet, mainly consisting of corn and beans, is so deficient in certain amino acids that it accounts for much of the traditional lethargy of the people there. Central Americans also suffer from a shortage of proteins, minerals and vitamins leading to severe illnesses such as pernicious anaemia.
Sharing food with another human being is an
intimate act that should not be indulged in
lightly. (M.F.K. Fisher)
To help restore proper diets and proteins intake, much scientific effort has gone into producing inexpensive foods with the right balance of amino acids. The production of local foods based on cheap available crops was encouraged in countries where animal proteins are unavailable except to a wealthy minority. For example, advantage was taken of the cotton industry, which yields large quantities of cheap cotton-seed meal as a by-product. |
