Thursday, July 17, 2014

Can I get enough protein in a Raw Vegan Diet?

How does someone who has chosen the raw vegan way of life find enough protein for their body?  After all, fruits and veggies are great, but the body does need protein.

What is protein and why is it important?

Protein is made up of amino acids and is used to build up tissue in the body, hair, skin, nails, and organs.  It helps repair damaged muscle tissue that is often due to exercise.  There are nine essential amino acids: isoleucine, valine, leucine, tryptophan, threonine, methionine, arginine, lysine, and histidine.  This is called a complete protein.  If the body is lacking any one of these, the protein is called incomplete, and can not repair the damage.
So now you can see how important Protein is to your body. 

How much protein do I need?
"The amount of protein needed by the body can differ based on age, sex and activity level. The recommended dietary allowance for adults over the age 18 is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight per day. Each pound is equal to 2.2 kg, meaning that a 150-pound person weighs about 68 kilograms. Therefore, a 150-pound person needs to get about 54 grams of protein per day to meet his or her needs" (Brinkman).

Brinkman, J. Renae "USDA Recommendations of Protein in Diet." LIVESTRONG.COM. LIVESTRONG.COM, 31 Oct. 2013. Web. 17 July 2014. 

Next post:  Where do I get my protein?
 

No comments:

Post a Comment