On Thu, 23 Mar 2000 13:49:47 -0500, Bruce Sherrod <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:
I wrote:
>>Another limitation of the USDA database i have encountered is, that
>>all ingredients are listed by *weight* only.
>>But weight is not the real limiting,
>>or amount determining property of food. More interesting would be
>>ingredients per *energy* or per *protein*. So one could more easily
>>determine how good a days amount of energy of a given food item
>>can supply ingredients.
Bruce:
>I'm not sure I agree with this.  Consider lettuce.  For me,
>the limiting factor when eating lettuce is not the calorie content,
>it's the volume.

Calorie content is not a limiting factor, but for most the factor
which *should* be limited. If the essential demands were not satisfied
within the reasonable amount of calories which one wants to consume,
then further intake of calories for the sake of satisfying the other
essential needs. This is the main reason to compare with calorie content.

For lettuce and many vegetables, which are rather low density,
volume is the limiting factor per *meal*.
You need 4 lbs of many vegetables to make your day,
with an enourmous volume.

Big volume is a quite desireable and paleo attribute though.
If you eat only 3 or four times a day - possibly with little time,
then you need high density food.
But real paleolithic humans had time all day to eat. And one can enjoy
eating for a long time with pleasure.
The big volume comes from amounts of fiber, which is a healthy and
satisfying part.

So, especially for people who want to live on less calories the
calorie comparison will be more valuable.

There are more interesting relations, I'll start a thread
to the tryptophan example.

regards
Amadeus