First of all, ask yourself: What is protein? I am guessing that most of us don’t actually know. Proteins are made from chains of 20 different amino acids that connect together in varying sequences. There are 8 amino acids that humans cannot make themselves and thus, must be obtained from our diets. These are called “essential.” You can get all of the essential amino acids your body needs on a plant-based diet. That’s right, no meat required!
Quinoa and soybeans (which means tofu, tempeh, soymilk, etc) are two examples of plant-based foods that contain all eight essential amino acids. Eating an adequate number of calories per day made up of any variety of plant foods gives us all the protein our bodies need. (There is protein in nearly everything from nuts and beans to veggies and grains.)
Although there may be potentially less protein in a vegetarian’s diet, this is actually an advantage. Excess protein has been linked to kidney stones, increased calcium excretion (which could lead to osteoporosis), some cancers, and possibly heart disease. A diet centered on beans, whole grains, and vegetables contains adequate amounts of protein without the “overdose” most meat-eaters get. The average American eats twice as much protein as needed.
I mean, seriously, have you heard of anyone suffering from kwashiorkor? Because that's the term used to define protein deficiency. Consider another thing… the most powerful animals on the planet (gorilla, elephant, giraffe, rhino, hippo) are all herbivores!
Now that you know the truth, please stop asking us this silly question and go eat some quinoa!
Blueberry Mango Quinoa Salad with Lemon Basil Dressing:
Smokey Tempeh Wrap:
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