The Protein Debate Part 1
I recently attended a Raw Food Expo in Sedona, AZ and opened my eyes to how “extreme” some people are willing to go to eat healthy and clean. If you follow a “raw” diet, you don’t eat anything cooked over 105 degrees. Raw dieters are 100% vegan, don’t eat anything processed, and avoid nearly all grains. Basically, they eat the epitome of “rabbit food”!
Initially, I was skeptical of this diet. Having transitioned to a mostly vegetarian, nearly vegan diet myself, I still held onto a shred of belief that without some fish and eggs you would have difficulty meeting your protein and B12 requirements. (For you carnivores reading this, stay with me… there is some valuable information to be learned from raw foodies.) The most common question any vegetarian/vegan/raw foodie is asked is “how do you get your protein?” The question we should all be asking is “how much protein are you absorbing?” The answer has to do with enzymes.
There are a number of different enzymes necessary for proper digestion and absorption of food and therefore nutrients. Our body produces these enzymes, but our natural production declines as we age, starting at around age 30. We also obtain these enzymes in the food we eat. Problem is, these enzymes are destryed when food is cooked. So, we don’t produce them naturally as we age and we cook our food which in turn destroys those enzymes. The result, in addition to other digestive health complaints, is poor absorption of nutrients from our food.
All plant foods contain protein (one cup of broccoli contains almost 6 grams). Proteins are made up of amino acids, some of which our bodies can only get from our food. While animal proteins contain all of the necessary amino acids in the right amounts, plant foods contain all of the amino acids but are generally low in one (called limiting amino acid). Conventional nutrition taught us to eat complete proteins (foods containing all of the essential amino acids, in the proper amounts). If you were a vegetarian, you were supposed to use “food combining” to obtain all of the essential amino acids through plant sources. The best example of this is beans and rice. Between these two foods, all essential amino acids can be obtained. But recent studies and science have concluded that our bodies are smart enough to “sort through” the amino acids we eat and as long as you eat a variety of plant foods, you will achieve a complete protein, and it doesn’t even have to be at the same meal or even in the same day!
Animal protein, while it does contain all of the essential amino acids, is acidic to the body. Plants (nearly all of them) are alkalizing. Your blood prefers to be more alkaline, and acidity in the blood leads to numerious health problems from kidney stones to cancer. And if you’re not buying organic, hormone free meat or dairy, you’re also ingesting a host of pesticides, antibiotics, and other toxins that accumulate in your body.
By eating raw plant food (vegetables, seeds, nuts, fruit), we can obtain all of the necessary amino acids (protein) AND the enzymes necessary for proper digestion and absorption. If you’re not ready to become a rabbit food eating, green juice drinking vegan, there are still things you can do to ensure proper absorption of protein and other nutrients.
1) Include MORE raw plant foods in your diet
2) Consider taking PLANT BASED ENZYMES with meals (found at any health food store)
3) Reduce the amount of animal protein you consume
4) Remember, when it comes to protein, more is not necessarily better. Quality over Quantity!
Thanks for reading!