Protein is a compound containing nitrogen, that’s found in plant and animal tissue. When digested, proteins are broken down into amino acids and absorbed into the blood stream. These amino acids are vital for muscle growth and repair. But the question remains, what to eat for protein?
Flesh from an animal, bird or fish is usually a good source of protein. And from the plant kingdom, you get protein from various kinds of beans, nuts and certain grains. In the good old days, people didn’t worry much about where they got their protein from. But today’s factory-fed consumer has to be more careful about the type of meat he is ingesting.
Factory-raised cows are grain fed. They do provide the necessary proteins but are relatively low in essential fatty acids, which help us to metabolize those very proteins. These fatty acids are found in cows fed on grass and greens. The same goes for factory-raised chicken and their eggs, and farmed salmon. Good fats must be present in protein rich foods.
Vegetarians have a limited number of choices, but they too should know what to eat for protein. In order to get a similar amount of protein from plants as from animals, you will also be increasing your carbohydrate intake significantly.
Increasing the intake of carbohydrates subsequently increases the amount of sugar in the blood stream. Kidney, Garbanzo, Lima and many other kinds of beans are a good source of vegetarian protein, but an even better source of carbohydrates.
Quinoa is a wonderful protein food, aptly dubbed the “complete protein grain”. It has twice the amount of protein than wheat and rice, and has a balanced set of amino acids, hence its title.
A crunchy form of protein, almonds are choke-full of nutrients and essential fatty acids. Also worth mentioning are milk and cheeses that are not highly processed, like ricotta, mascarpone, cottage and goat cheeses.
In today’s age of factory food, it pays to be smart, to wisely choose what to eat for protein and avoid foods that will only create problems later in life.