The vegetarian diet, protein and essential fatty acids

Frederic says the couple has shifted toward a vegetarian diet and has been told he may lack protein, essential fatty acids and amino acids.

Reviewing his sources - eggs, cheese, lentils, beans, some tofu - the Wonders suggest adding edamame as a good protein supplement and taking a vitamin B complex, especially B12, which they flag as a difficulty for him, while saying his body is doing reasonably well.

For essential fatty acids they recommend cooking with coconut oil or taking a quarter to half a teaspoon on its own, noting coconut oil differs from coconut (which his blood type guideline discourages), plus flax seed and hemp seed oils on salads for omega-3 and omega-6.

They caution against advice from people whose vegetarianism amounts to chips, fries and cheese, and against the 80-10-10 approach, which they say will destroy the body over the long term; 40-30-30 is the best balance, including some animal protein and animal fat such as butter.

His slight weight gain is welcome since he was slightly underdeveloped, though he should not overdo it.