10 Protein-Packed Plants
The continuing debate over how much protein the average person needs* has done little to change our hunger for it. And who can blame us? Protein is one of the basic building blocks of life.
When most people think of protein though, images of cheese, eggs and a leg of lamb pop into their head. Did you know though that every yes, every whole food contains protein. From your morning banana to your evening salad, youre getting protein. Finding plants packed with protein is easy to do, and not only is it easy to do, it is easy for your body to use.
Animal-based proteins are complete, which means that they contain all the essential amino acids we need to build protein. The issue is that because they are already complete, our bodies must break the protein strains apart and then reassemble the amino acids into the form of protein that best suits our bodies. As you can imagine, this take a good deal of work, which slows and inhibits the absorption process. Some plant-based proteins are complete, but most are incomplete, meaning that the amino acids needed to synthesize protein can be pulled from the food and used as needed without having to break a network of complex protein strains apart. If you are eating a variety of whole, plant-based foods rich in essential amino acids then your body will be able to select what it needs from each food and create its own protein strands. Along with increasing the efficiency with which your body can use the food youre eating, plants are also free from cholesterol, tend to be high in fiber, and are often alkalizing to the body. All animal products, on the other hand, are acidifying to the body, which causes calcium to be leeched from your bones, as well as decreasing oxygen levels in the blood, and negatively impacting the digestive/lymphatic system.
Since ! every wh ole food has protein in it, you have literally millions of great options to choose from when it comes to creating a balanced diet with the right percentage of protein for your body*. Ive selected ten nutritious plants to get you started, for both their protein content and other health benefits. You may be surprised at some of the veggies, nuts and grains that made it onto my list.
*More is not necessarily better when it comes to protein. The World Health Organizations RDA for protein is .45 grams of protein per kilogram of ideal body weight. Some healthcare professionals argue that this level is too high. No matter whose recommendation you choose to follow, the fact is that each persons protein needs are different, but all can be met with a plant-based diet.
