Most Americans are Obsessed with Protein.
Protein is a nutrient. It is needed for growth, tissue repair, immune function, preserving lean muscle mass, hormone production and energy when carbohydrates are not available. Protein is not Meat, it is a nutrient.
Myth: Protein builds muscles. Only exercise builds muscles, protein helps repair the damage and provides the nutrition, but does not build the muscle.
Extra protein beyond the daily requirement will not make extra muscle or grow hair faster or protect against diseases. Protein beyond what is needed is either broken down and used for energy, or it is turned into fat and stored in fat cells.
Say that Again!
What happens to all that extra Protein we consume?
It is stored as Fat.
How much Protein should we eat?
Depending on how active we are, age, and gender, we should eat a diet of approximately 10%-30% of our daily food intake as protein. For an average woman that is around 46 grams per day. For a man it is 56 grams per day. Pregnant women, children, and athletes have a higher requirement.
The average American eats 100-120 grams of protein a day, largely from an animal source. This animal source will also include a higher level of saturated fat which puts an undue stress on the kidneys.
Other health conditions that may result from an overabundance of protein include excessive calcium leaching from the bones and causing osteoporosis, acid reflux, obesity, plaque build-up in the arteries, high blood pressure, pain from arthritis, high cholesterol, bad breath from sulfur-containing amino acids, and increased risk of heart disease and cancer, especially colon cancer.
An interesting fact is that the World Health Organization says we require 4.5% to 5% of our daily diet in protein. That is exactly what human breast milk contains.
Where did we get the Idea that we need to eat large amounts of Protein?
The campaigns by the meat and dairy producing companies have saturated the market and media with hype such as: "Where's the beef?" and "Milk does a body good". Protein is a product that has political power and makes big money. We have been sold the idea, that we need more protein from animal sources, and we need more protein to build strong bones and build muscles.
The word "Protein" carries a lot of power. Consumers will buy products that have labels and advertising touting they contain lots of protein to build muscle. Have you ever seen a plant product with that kind of power?
We can obtain all the protein we need from plant based sources. We have not been educated with the facts about protein. We equate protein with animal.
Sample of Protein Content from Vegetables
Spinach: 49% protein
Broccoli: 33%
Cauliflower: 26%
Romaine lettuce: 36% (what, I thought lettuce was worthless)
Corn: 11%
Kale: 22%
Cucumber: 24%
Potato: 11%
Carrot: 10%
Cantaloupe: 9%
Grapefruit: 8%
Berries: 7%
Tomato: 16%
Almonds: 13%
Pumpkin seeds: 17%
Brown Rice: 8%
Oats: 15%
Kidney beans: 26%
Why should we eat more Carbohydrates?
According to the USDA, we should also be consuming 45%-65% of our Diet as Complex Carbohydrate.
WHY?
Because:
Carbohydrates are the body’s main source of fuel.
Carbohydrates are easily used by the body for energy.
All of the tissues and cells in our body can use glucose for energy.
Carbohydrates are needed for the central nervous system, the kidneys, the brain, the muscles (including the heart) to function properly.
Carbohydrates can be stored in the muscles and liver and later used for energy.
Carbohydrates are important in intestinal health and waste elimination.
Carbohydrates are mainly found in starchy foods (like grain and potatoes), fruits, milk, and yogurt. Other foods like vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds and cottage cheese contain carbohydrates, but in lesser amounts.
The Moral to this story:
Eat meat sparingly.
