Vegetarians typically get bombarded with questions about their protein consumption.
It seems the general populous believes only meat can deliver the high quality protein essential to our survival.
This however, is not true; vegetarians also have ways of consuming the necessary protein.
A vegetarian diet is one in which no animal meat is consumed.
This is what is most perplexing about getting the necessary protein on such a diet.
How is it possible? Can you really get the adequate protein? The answer is yes.
Surprisingly most of the foods consumed by vegetarians have protein.
This includes nearly all leafy greens and beans.
Take for instance soybeans, which per cup have 29g of protein.
This is the equivalent of 5oz of meat.
Spinach and grains also provide sufficient protein.
The problem then arises when we question the essential amino acid composition.
Protein is made up of "building blocks" or amino acids.
Of the 20, humans can only create 11 of them.
This means that 9 have to come from our diets in order for us to continue a healthy lifestyle; this gives them the term "essential".
So, does a Vegan diet contain not only enough protein, but enough essential amino acids? The answer is yes it can.
It all depends on what you eat.
Foods such as tofu, potatoes and rice are high in these amino acids; however beans and vegetables are low.
For athletes, these amino acids are even more important.
Branch-chained amino acids (BCAA) are a sub group of essential amino acids, and are responsible for the growth and development of muscle tissue.
These were at a time difficult to attain through a vegan diet, but with the birth of the supplement world, it's no longer an issue.
There are various powdered proteins that have an ample supply of these amino acids, partnered with the newly developed BCAA pill supplements.
Tofu, and food such as tempeh are also good for this protein.
When it comes to vegetarian diets most seem to be confused as to where the protein comes from.
If you dive a little deeper however, you will realize that the protein is there.
It's not hard to get adequate protein from a vegetarian diet; you just have to be aware of what foods contain protein and which do not.
Stick with the leafy vegetables and beans, and protein will never be a problem!
It seems the general populous believes only meat can deliver the high quality protein essential to our survival.
This however, is not true; vegetarians also have ways of consuming the necessary protein.
A vegetarian diet is one in which no animal meat is consumed.
This is what is most perplexing about getting the necessary protein on such a diet.
How is it possible? Can you really get the adequate protein? The answer is yes.
Surprisingly most of the foods consumed by vegetarians have protein.
This includes nearly all leafy greens and beans.
Take for instance soybeans, which per cup have 29g of protein.
This is the equivalent of 5oz of meat.
Spinach and grains also provide sufficient protein.
The problem then arises when we question the essential amino acid composition.
Protein is made up of "building blocks" or amino acids.
Of the 20, humans can only create 11 of them.
This means that 9 have to come from our diets in order for us to continue a healthy lifestyle; this gives them the term "essential".
So, does a Vegan diet contain not only enough protein, but enough essential amino acids? The answer is yes it can.
It all depends on what you eat.
Foods such as tofu, potatoes and rice are high in these amino acids; however beans and vegetables are low.
For athletes, these amino acids are even more important.
Branch-chained amino acids (BCAA) are a sub group of essential amino acids, and are responsible for the growth and development of muscle tissue.
These were at a time difficult to attain through a vegan diet, but with the birth of the supplement world, it's no longer an issue.
There are various powdered proteins that have an ample supply of these amino acids, partnered with the newly developed BCAA pill supplements.
Tofu, and food such as tempeh are also good for this protein.
When it comes to vegetarian diets most seem to be confused as to where the protein comes from.
If you dive a little deeper however, you will realize that the protein is there.
It's not hard to get adequate protein from a vegetarian diet; you just have to be aware of what foods contain protein and which do not.
Stick with the leafy vegetables and beans, and protein will never be a problem!