Blog #2: The Protein Myth

So. Let’s Talk about protein!

As a vegan, the most frequent question I get asked is Where Do I Get My Protein? But I could asked the same question right back to any omnivore. Asking a vegan where they get their protein is about as arbitrary as asking a dentist if he knows how to swim. Being vegan and being protein deficient have absolutely nothing to do with each other. In fact the only way that someone, vegan or not, could have a “protein deficiency” — a condition nearly unheard of — is if they aren’t eating enough calories. This is also true of iron, calcium and all the other essential nutrients we need to be healthy. Bottom line, every single plant food has protein in it.

So where does this protein craze come from? And why does the source of the protein have to come from animals rather than plants? Why are we told we need such an obscene amount of it? Each and every cell in the human body runs off glucose which comes from carbohydrates… So why are are we told to go on diets that cut carbs and replace them with fat and animal protein? Let’s break this down.

The average person needs 44–55 grams of protein a day. This can be acquired by eating a mere 1/3 cup of almonds, 1/4 cup of oatmeal, 1 piece of whole wheat bread, and a half cup of tofu. This disregards any other protein they might be getting from vegetables eaten along the course of the day.

And think again if you think you need protein to get swoll, bruh. These numbers apply to athletes as well. There are many thriving, successful fit athletes who eat a solely plant-based diet including Robert Cheeke (vegan body builder), Brendan Brazier (pro IronMan athlete), Tony Fiametta (former Dallas Cowboy) Molly Cameron (pro-cyclist), and Matt Frazier (pro marathoner and and ultra runner). Plus, the largest animals in the world such as elephants, rhinos, hippos, giraffes, and cows are all vegan!

So why all the misinformation when there is living proof that a vegan diet is healthy and sustainable and that according to Dr. Gregor, the top 15 leading causes of death can be avoided and/or reversed by cutting meat, dairy and eggs completely from the diet (proven here>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rNY7xKyGCQ)?

It is renowned, American physician Dr. McDougall (author of Starch Solution, Regain Your Health, and Lose Weight For Good) who has been asserting for years that it’s the ignorance of our public policy makers and educators that is sickening and killing people. Aside from the minimal nutritional study most physicians are actually required to do, most doctors don’t recommend a plant-based diet because of the “protein deficiency” fear caused by a massive misunderstanding and lack of knowledge of the composition of plants in the medical community. In actuality, plants are made up of cells with enzymes and hormones making them inherently rich in protein.

So the next time your parents or your doctor tries to tell you that meat, dairy and eggs are a health food, consider that 1.25 million people suffer from heart attacks, annually — the number one cause of these heart attacks being the very food doctors are recommending you eat. This is something to lean into.

My boyfriend decided to go vegan a month into dating me. He instantly felt a lack of energy and overwhelming exhaustion and was quick to blame his problems on the lack of protein he thought he was getting. “Well how much are you eating?” I asked. “The same amount I ate before, just without the animal products.” I gave him a knowing smile and quickly informed him that I, as a 5’9, 122 pound vegan woman eat upwards of 3,000 calories of plants everyday, MINIMUM. “Vegans don’t just eat salad! We eat rice and quinoa and beans and pasta and nuts and seeds and potatoes!” After I showed him what kinds of meals I eat, full of protein and all the essential vitamins and minerals, he quickly caught on and he’s now been vegan for sixth months and concludes it’s the best decision he’s ever made.

In 2012, the Harvard Nurses’ Health Study found that the “daily consumption of the amount of cholesterol found in a single egg appeared to cut a woman’s life short as much as smoking 25,000 cigarettes.” http://nutritionfacts.org/video/eggs-vs-cigarettes-in-atherosclerosis/ So, next time you decide to fry up an egg for breakfast to get in that protein, try a cup of oats with fruit and maple syrup instead! See how you feel. Your body will thank you.