Protein in a Vegan Diet

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There’s a common perception that to obtain enough protein, one will have to eat lots of non-vegetarian food, as opposed to very little if one is consuming meat.  This perception can be easily described as a myth. The vegans i.e. people who don’t eat any animal product also have plenty of high protein options to choose from as far as protein rich foods are concerned. The most common vegetarian food sources of protein include: beans, nuts, grains like pulses and lentils, peas, nut butters etc.

A vegetarian must ensure that his or her diet contains a wide variety of protein rich foods. This is essential because the essential amino acids required by our body cannot be obtained from a single vegetarian protein source. If vegans need to take a protein rich diet for fighting a medical condition or to build muscles, they should ensure that all their meals contain adequate quantity of protein. To have sufficient protein in your diet, you can take peanut butter with bread during breakfast. A teaspoonful peanut butter contains 8g protein.

A lunch comprising of beans and rice or beans and corn will also offer the required quantity of protein. Another great option fort such individuals is soybeans or other soy products like tofu, soy milk etc. A bowl full of soybean is known to offer as much protein as two egg whites. One cup soy milk, on the other hand, offers 7g protein. In dinner, vegans can take rice with lentils. One cup lentil offers 18g protein. You can consult your dietitian and know how much protein you need to take per day and plan your diet accordingly.

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Varying Your Vegan Diet

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As a vegetarian, you have so many delicious meal options available to you. The number one way for you to ensure that your diet is keeping up with your nutritional needs is to vary the fruits and vegetables that you eat. Another way to gauge your nutritional intake is to take a close look at how you feel. If you are eating repetitive foods and feeling under the weather, it is time to ramp up your diet.

Fresh Picks in Every Color

Choose produce in various shades. When you grocery shop, you should plan to have at least six different colors of vegetables and fruits in your cart. A good example would be red peppers, eggplant, spinach, sweet potatoes, bananas, blueberries and other staples that you typically buy. The next week you should attempt to go for six other fruits and veggies in shades of red, orange, purple and blue in addition to deep green and yellow. The brighter the fruit or vegetable, the more vitamins and antioxidants it is prone to have. It is likely that you already buy organic produce, but if you don’t it’s time to start!

Keep the Protein Coming

If you don’t eat eggs or dairy products, you need to be sure that you are getting the appropriate amount of protein through other sources like almond butter, garbanzo beans, and lentils. According to the Vegetarian Resource Group, a vegan need only take in 10% of their daily calories in the form of protein. This is easy to do when you are regularly eating a variety of foods. Soy is also a good source of protein, though some people try to avoid soy due to a possible link with the activation of estrogen receptor cells. The study relating to this is ongoing and inconclusive, so as with everything, if you use soy products, be sure to do so in moderation.

Vegan and Vegetarian—Who Eats What?

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Vegetarians eat vegetables. Simple, right? No so much. There are different grades of vegetarians, if you will:

Pescatarians

Pescatarians simply eat no raw or cooked flesh or meat except for seafood or fish. This is sometimes due to diet restrictions, while other times it is simply a matter of personal choice. A diet of vegetables, fruits, whole foods and lean fish is heart-healthy and provides protein as well as omega acids from an animal source.

Vegetarians

Usually, a person will refer to himself as a vegetarian if he eats no animal flesh or meat what-so-ever, but he will consume eggs and dairy products. Another term commonly used is lacto-ovo-vegetarian. Protein sources come from eggs, cheese and additional dairy products as well as non-animal sources.

Vegans

Vegans eat no products derived from animals. They consume mainly vegetables and fruits as well as barley, oats, brown rice and other whole grains. Legumes are a primary source of protein for many vegans.

A person’s diet is a matter of choice. Everyone should take personal preferences as well as health concerns into mind when deciding what type of diet they should eat. In many cases, a physician’s advice should be sought as well. There has been past controversy about the health value of a vegan diet. In many instances, the controversy came up due to a lack of education. If a person is unaware of the proper balance that the body needs, their lack of information can result in improper diet choices leading to anemia, low-protein levels, or other bodily harm. Followed properly, a vegan diet can be just as healthy, if not more-so, than other meal plans.

No matter which foods a person eats, they can maintain their daily nutritional needs by varying their diet within the foods groups in which they eat. A wholly vegan diet is indefinitely healthier than one consisting of fast-food stops and fried dinners. Even if you choose not to stick to a vegan diet, eating fruits and veggies consistently will feed your body as well as your mind.