Question

Erin is a 28-year-old professional woman who is 5 feet 8 inches tall and vigilantly maintains her weight at 118 pounds by following a lacto-ovo (non-fat milk and egg whites only) vegetarian diet that supplies approximately 1200 calories a day. With her understanding that protein should provide between 10 and 35 percent of her daily calories, she reasons that her daily intake of 40 grams of protein from milk, eggs, legumes, and nuts is adequate for her needs. She is concerned, however, that she has been sick more than usual and has experienced two stress fractures in her leg over the past three years while exercising. What can be said about Erin's protein intake? a. Given that she is a lacto-ovo vegetarian, it is virtually impossible for her to get adequate, balanced protein. b. She is actually getting more protein than recommended, and this may cause her to excrete calcium, increasing her risk of bone fracture. c. Given her lacto-ovo vegetarian diet, she is probably consuming too much methionine and tryptophan. d. Although it falls within the recommended range in terms of the percentage of total energy intake, her protein intake is less than recommended in terms of the absolute amount needed to maintain a healthy body weight. e. Erin's reliance on legumes and other non-meat sources of protein may increase her risk of certain cancers, such as colon cancer.

Answer 1

Answer: the correct option is D (Although it falls within the recommended range in terms of the percentage of total energy intake, her protein intake is less than recommended in terms of the absolute amount needed to maintain a healthy body weight.)

Explanation: Protein is the class of food that serves as an important building block of bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, and blood. It's deficiency can lead to bone defects as experienced by Erin.

According to the nutrition facts panel on food packages, protein provides 4 calories per gramm (4cal/ g).

In order to maintain her weight of 118 pounds, Erin is following a lacto- ovo vegetarian diet that supplies approx. 1200cal/ day. With her understanding , protein intake should be 22.5%/ day( average of 10- 35%/day). When converted to cal/ day is 270cal/day. 270cal/ day when convoy gram is 67.5g/day but she takes 40 g/ day. Following this analysis, her protein intake is less than recommended in terms of the absolute amount needed to maintain a healthy body weight.