Linda Page- We need protein for daily energy, body growth and general health. Protein is critical to successful healing from illness or injury, and to maintain immune resistance. When we suffer a wound or surgery trauma, our body loses protein, especially skeletal muscle. We need extra high quality protein to recuperate and normalize our body functions.
After water, protein is the most plentiful substance in the body, the major constituent of every living cell and body fluid except for bile and urine. Protein regulates our acid-alkaline levels and body fluid balance. it helps to form enzymes, even some hormones.
Except in its restore-and-repair mode, or for accelerated athletic performance, our bodies don't seem to need large amounts of protein to thrive.
Most of us have been taught that we need much more protein than we actually do. Americans, for instance, eat 2 to 4 times more protein than is needed for good nutrition or health. If we eat enough healthy calories to maintain a reasonable weight, we will get more than enough protein automatically. Even athletes, for whom 'high protein' was once the only watchword, do not need an overabundance of protein. Muscle strength, power, and endurance grow from complex carbohydrates and unsaturated fats as well as from protein.
Most Americans think in terms of meat and animal foods for protein. But animal protein often comes loaded with saturated fat, calories and cholesterol. Overeating these foods added u;unwanted weight because excess protein turns into fat. Too much protein impair good kidney function, increases calcium loss in bones, and poses a clear health risk to heart and arteries.
Experts agree that plant protein should furnish at least half, if not all of our protein intake. Vegetables high in protein are also rich in fiber and complex carbohydrates, and high in vitamins and minerals with little fat content. A vegetarian diet, even without dairy products can easily meed the RDA for protein Vegetarians have lower cholesterol, denser bones and stronger teeth. Eating the majority of our protein from plant source significantly increases our healing capability, and reduces our proneness to cancer and other diseases.
Soy foods, dries beans, nuts and seeds, potatoes, whole grains and pasta, brown rice, corn, bee pollen, bananas, sprouts, and nutritional yeast provide good plant protein. Complete vegetable protein, like that in tofu, tempeh, quinoa and nutritional yeast supplies all the necessary amino acids found in animal foods without the fat and cholesterol. Even plants that don't have complete protein in terms of amino acids, complement other vegetable protein foods, effectively boosting both quality and absorption of each food.
Non -meat protein options
Soy foods: Tofu, tempeh, miso, soy cheese, soy milk
Nuts: Pine nuts, walnuts, almonds, cashew, Brazils and hazelnuts.
Seeds: Pumpkin, sesame, sunflower.
Beans and Legumes: Peas, peanuts, lentils, pintos lima's, mungs, black, white and red beans, turtle beans.
Whole grains: Wheat and wheat germ, brown, basmati and wild rice, millet, barley, bulgur, buckwheat, amaranth, rye, quinoa, and amazake rice drink.
Vegetables: All sprouts, mushrooms
Sea Vegetables: All
Fruits: Avocados, coconuts, prunes, raisins, apples, figs and date
Bee Pollen: Contains all the essential Amino Acids in one natural source.
Nutritional Yeast: Just 2 TBS contains as much protein as 1/4 cup wheat germ, as much calcium as 1/2 cup orange juice, as much iron a 1 cup spinach as much thiamine as 1 cup wheat germ, as much niacin as 1/2 brown rice, as much riboflavin as 4 eggs.
Ginseng: Increases protein content in the muscles.
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