Complete proteins better than incomplete proteins post-workout

By Scott Douglas

A quarter-century ago, the conventional wisdom was that vegetarians needed to have complementary protein sources with every meal. That is, vegetarians were told to have dishes like rice and beans that, taken as a whole, supplied all of the amino acids found in a typical piece of meat. That guidance fell out of favour in recent years, with most nutritionists saying that as long as you got complementary protein sources over the course of a day, you'd be fine.

Now, however, the pendulum has started to swing back, at least for athletes. Some researchers say that, while "complete" proteins aren't necessary at every meal for vegetarians, they're better than incomplete proteins for athletes' post-workout meals. The thinking here is that, in the crucial recovery window immediately following a long or hard workout, you might as well make the extra effort to get complementary proteins.

For more information, you might want to read Alex Hutchinson’s longer take on the issue in The Globe and Mail.

Like this article? Subscribe to Runner’s World and save up to A$35 on the retail price (delivered directly to your door) and receive a FREE pair of Brooks socks PLUS if you subscribe for two years you will also receive a FREE Runner’s World watch.

If you missed picking this issue up at newsstands you can purchase your Runner's World back issue here today!