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Healthy Diet Plans >>  Vegetarianism >>  Vegetarian protein

Vegetarian Protein


Protein is an important component of good health. It helps to build muscle and tissue. Individuals who perform weight training are advised to incorporate a greater amount of protein in order to build their bodies. Protein supplements are also quite popular. It is commonly believed that only non-vegetarian sources such as fish, egg and meat can supply protein to the body.
But vegetarian food sources can also help a person to meet the adequate requirement of protein. The only concern with vegetarian protein sources is that only one product cannot supply the required amount of protein. One must consume a variety of foods in order to obtain complete protein. Some of the vegetarian protein rich foods include lentils and whole grains. These contain a considerable quantity of protein which can be used by the body easily. Examples of whole grains are brown rice, oatmeal, millet, wheat germ, buckwheat and barley. These protein sources are also commonly available in most places. Beans and legumes are also valuable sources of vegetarian protein. Kidney beans, soy beans, lima beans and split peas all provide adequate protein to the body. Soy products like soy milk, soy yogurt, soy cheese, soy nuts and tofu are rich in protein and also popular because of their delicious taste. Nuts and seeds such as cashews, walnuts, almonds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and peanuts are high in protein content. But they are also high in fats and hence most people may not want to incorporate them into the daily diet. They work best as a snack after a workout.

Vegetarian Protein Powder


Many vegetarians find it difficult to get enough protein through their regular diet. This is especially true of those vegans or vegetarians who are trying to build muscle. Such people may benefit from the use of a vegetarian protein powder. These powders are prepared from non-animal protein sources. Examples of such sources include brown rice and peas. Like other protein powders, these do not contain any eggs, meat or dairy sources. It is quite easy to use these protein powders. One simply has to add a scoop of the powder to a beverage of choice such as milk or fruit juice. A single serving is able to provide as much protein as one meal. However all vegetarian protein powders are not prepared in the same manner. It is important to do some research on such products before selecting one. It is also helpful to determine how much protein will be digested by one’s body. In some people, only a small amount of protein is absorbed by the body. The rest is eliminated from the body as waste. One must also understand how the protein is prepared from the sources. Many methods can result in proteins that are not natural for the body and hence cannot be properly digested. Holistic methods of production are more beneficial since they only make use of whole foods. The amino acids resulting from these methods are essential to health and building of muscle.

Vegetarian Protein Recipes


Taste is also an important factor when selecting a protein powder. There are a variety of powders and several different flavors to choose from today. This helps to add variety to a protein vegan diet. In addition to protein powders, there are also many vegetarian protein recipes to choose from. These are prepared from ingredients that are rich in protein such as tofu, nuts and beans. Most people benefit from a moderate amount of protein in every meal. This helps to create energy for the body. Those looking to put on weight or build muscle may benefit from a slightly higher amount of protein.
Submitted on September 8, 2011