Certain People Should Avoid It
While seitan is a nutritious and versatile food, some people may need to avoid it.
For instance, seitan is a good option for people who follow a soy-free diet, but it still contains wheat gluten. Wheat is another major allergen, and many people have gluten-related disorders that require them to avoid it.
That includes people who have celiac disease, a serious autoimmune condition triggered by ingesting gluten .
Because the primary ingredient in seitan is gluten, eating it could cause a significant reaction if you have an allergy or intolerance to gluten.
The Possible Benefits Of Trading Meat Protein For Plant Protein
One perk of eating animal protein is that these sources are complete meaning they provide the nine essential amino acids our bodies cant make, according to the Cedars-Sinai Blog. But there are benefits to trading or reducing your meat consumption and filling up on plant proteins, including:
Losing weight When followed properly, plant-based diets, such as a vegetarian diet, may help you lose weight, according to a review of 12 randomized controlled trials published in January 2016 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
Helping the environment Swapping meat for plants to get your protein fix can similarly benefit the environment, notes an article published in December 2018 in Nutrients.
Boosting your heart health When it comes to red meat, the benefits of relying on plant alternatives for protein arguably get even more impressive. Some studies have linked red meat with an increased risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, partly due to the saturated fat content, Sessions says.
Meanwhile, other research, like a meta-analysis published in April 2014 in JAMA Internal Medicine, reveals that compared with omnivorous dieters vegetarians had lower diastolic and systolic blood pressure numbers. Those benefits can lead to a healthier ticker, lowering your risk for heart disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
No one needs to eat red meat to be healthy, Sessions says.
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Types Of Protein: Animal Vs Plant Protein
Its also a myth that protein from meat is a better protein source than vegan or plant-based protein. Although the meat and dairy industries like to make it sound like animal protein is the prize protein for your body, science doesnt back up this claim. It turns out that the source of your protein matters. And you might be surprised to learn that animal-sourced protein may actually be inferior to plant-sourced protein.
In a 2018 study in the International Journal of Epidemiology, researchers followed 81,337 participants for 612 years. The researchers looked at the percentage of protein that came from animal and plant sources for these participants. What they found was that the risk of cardiovascular death steadily climbed with higher consumption of meat protein but fell steadily with increased consumption of protein from nuts and seeds.
In addition, a 2003 research review in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition confirmed that diets lower in meat consumption led to greater longevity.
The researchers also noted that the longer a persons adherence to a plant-strong diet, the lower their risk of mortality and the higher their life expectancy.
At least one of the reasons may have to do with insulin-like growth factor . Research suggests that animal protein, in particular, causes higher levels of IGF-1, which may increase your risk of cancer and many age-related diseases.
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Whole Spelt Is High In Carbs And Fiber
Similar to wheat and other grains, spelt is mainly comprised of carbs, most of which is starch, or long chains of glucose molecules .
Whole spelt is also a good source of dietary fiber. Fiber helps slow down digestion and absorption, which helps reduce blood sugar spikes.
High fiber intake is strongly linked to positive health outcomes including, a reduced risk of obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes .
Summary
Whole spelt is high in carbs and fiber. High fiber diets have been linked to positive health outcomes.
Best Plant Based Protein Sources: Complete Whole Foods
A lot of people worry that they wont be able to get enough plant based protein on a vegan diet.
I was also concerned about this myself before I went vegan.
You dont need to be concerned because its actually very easy to get enough complete protein on a vegan or plant based diet.
The real trick is to make sure the sources of protein come from whole foods which also have enough micronutrients to provide all your daily nutritional needs.
We dont need to be as concerned about protein as we do about getting all of our vitamins and minerals. So a whole foods diet based on fruit and veg is optimal.
But I do understand that protein is at the forefront of most peoples minds when they are considering the impact of a vegan or plant based diet. So that is my focus for this article.
Today Im sharing a list of all of my favorite whole food plant based protein sources to keep you healthy on a vegan diet.
Heres an interesting fact for you
Although vegans seem to have no trouble getting enough protein, meat eaters eat about 20% more protein than vegans do
Interestingly, studies have also shown that despite taking in less protein than meat eaters, vegans had significantly higher plasma protein in their blood.
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What If You Want More Protein
If you want to boost your protein levels for any reason, there are good reasons to aim for plant-based sources. Shelled seeds , or seeds that have been ground into a powder, are excellent protein sources.
What about using more refined protein supplements to add protein to your diet? That may not be the best idea. In 2018, the Clean Label Project tested the most popular protein powders on the market. They found that virtually all of the 134 protein powder products tested contained detectable levels of at least one heavy metal, and 55% tested positive for BPA.
Strangely, the plant-based and organic protein powders were not exempt from these problems and in many cases actually fared worse.
Many of the protein powders on the market also contain additional sweeteners, flavorings, fillers, preservatives, and gums. And conventional protein supplements are often made with whey, a dairy protein, which is a byproduct of the cheesemaking process.
But the good news is, so long as you eat a varied diet based around whole foods and get enough total calories, chances are you have no need for protein supplements anyway.
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8.Oats provide three times the amount of protein as brown rice with more fiber and less starch. It also makes for a decent source of B vitamins, calcium, and magnesium. Most of my smoothies and shakes are made with extra oats to fill you up and provide more protein. Get yours here!
9.Almonds, eaten as fresh nuts, contain 7 grams of protein per cup or the same with almond butter in 2 tablespoons. Get your almonds here!
10.Pumpkin seeds have 8 grams of protein in a 1/4 cup. They are probably the most overlooked sources of protein, iron, and magnesium. This was the main ingredient in my natural protein shake. Get your pumpkin seeds here!
11.Green beans deliver 4 grams of protein in a half cup and give you high fiber, low carbs, and vitamin B6.
12.Chia seeds are a complete source of protein with 5 grams per 2 tablespoons. It also makes a great pudding, among other things. Here is a great chia seed smoothie.Get your chia seeds here!
13.Amaranth is similar to quinoa. Its a seed but also considered an ancient pseudo-grain. One cooked cup adds 7 grams of protein to your meal, as well as, magnesium, B vitamins, and iron.
14.Asparagus has 4 grams of protein per cup, which is about four to six chopped stalks. Its also an excellent source of folate.
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Vegan Diets May Lead To Nutritional Deficiencies Without Careful Planning
That said, its important to keep in mind that not all vegan diets will be equally beneficial.
While well-planned vegan diets made up of mostly minimally processed foods are considered beneficial for all stages of life, those including large amounts of ultra-processed plant foods are not (
28 ).
Sprouting, fermenting, and cooking foods in cast-iron cookware can further enhance your bodys ability to absorb the nutrients contained in plant foods .
Minimizing your intake of processed plant foods, while increasing your intake of whole or minimally-processed ones can help reduce the risk of experiencing nutrient deficiencies.
Best Sources Of Plant
Plant-based diets are becoming more and more popular among the general public.
When a person says Im vegetarian or Im vegan, one of the first questions they will often get is: Do you get much protein intake?
Although eating enough protein is simple when consuming an omnivorous diet, it can be tricky when eating a plant-based diet.
But it is possible!
There are tons of high-quality plant-based protein foods out there. Here are 16 of them.
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How To Add Spelt To Your Diet
You can add spelt to your diet as a whole grain or in spelt flour. If youre using whole grains, be sure to wash them thoroughly and soak them overnight. This helps to make the spelt easier to digest.
You can then use them as a substitute for other carbs, like rice or potatoes, in many dishes. A few popular ideas are spelt risotto or spelt broths and stews.
Its also easy to substitute spelt flour for wheat flour in most recipes, as they are very similar. If you are baking, you can substitute about half your usual flour for spelt flour and get a similar result.
You can buy spelt flour in stores or online.
Summary
Spelt can be used as a substitute for other carbs. You can try cooking the whole grains or using spelt flour instead of wheat flour in recipes.
Does Spelt Have Any Health Benefits
Whole grains, like whole spelt, are considered to be very healthy for most people.
They are an important source of carbs, protein, fiber, and essential nutrients like iron and zinc.
Research consistently links higher intakes of whole grains with lower risk of stroke, heart attack, type 2 diabetes, and even some cancers (
13 ).
One review of six studies involving a total of 247,487 people found that those who ate the most whole grains were 14% less likely to have a stroke compared with those who ate the least amount of whole grains .
Similarly, an analysis of over 14,000 people found the highest intakes of whole grains were associated with a 21% reduced risk of heart disease compared to the lowest intakes .
Another 2013 review showed that high whole grain intake was associated with a 32% reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Refined grains did not show the same benefit .
Although most of these studies are observational, there have been some human clinical trials that support the health benefits of whole grains as well .
Summary
Regularly consuming spelt or other whole grains promotes health and could help protect against obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.
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Research On Protein And Health
Available evidence indicates that its the source of protein , rather than the amount of protein, that likely makes a difference for our health. You can explore the research related to each disease in the tabs below, but heres the evidence-based takeaway: eating healthy protein sources like beans, nuts, fish, or poultry in place of red meat and processed meat can lower the risk of several diseases and premature death.
Research conducted at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health has found that eating even small amounts of red meatespecially processed red meaton a regular basis is linked to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke, and the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease or any other cause. Conversely, replacing red and processed red meat with healthy protein sources such as beans, soy foods, nuts, fish, or poultry seems to reduce these risks. One of the reasons why plant sources of protein are related to lower risk of cardiovascular disease compared to protein from red meat and dairy is because of the different types of fat in these protein packages. Plant-based protein sources are more unsaturated, which lowers LDL cholesterolan established risk factor for heart disease. Also, plant sources contain no cholesterol. Other factors are likely to contribute to the lower risk, but this is a key factor.
When it comes to cancer, once again, the seems to matter more than quantity.
Chia Seeds : 6 Grams Of Protein
Ch-ch-ch-chia! Sound familiar? For many folks, their only experience with chia seeds growing up may have been via the infamous Chia Pets. But these teeny little seeds are now becoming an increasingly popular superfood because of their high protein, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acid content.
Make a chia seed pudding, use chia seeds in smoothies, or add them to salads and oatmeal. And heres an important tip: Like flaxseeds, its best to grind your chia seeds to make sure you absorb the most nutrients possible.
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How To Get Protein As A Vegan
People who eat or are considering vegetarian or vegan diets may be concerned about getting enough protein from their food. This article looks at the best plant-based proteins, including vegetables high in protein, and some ways to use them. We also discuss whether plant-based protein powders are a good option.
- Evidence-based
- This article is based on scientific evidence, written by experts, and fact-checked by experts.
- We look at both sides of the argument and strive to be objective, unbiased, and honest.
Recently, more people are interested in following vegetarian or even vegan diets. A shift away from animal products is getting more comfortable with more fortified and nutritious plant-based foods available.
There are different reasons why a person may try a vegan diet for health reasons or animal rights. In 2016, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics stated that a vegetarian or vegan diet could provide all the nutritional requirements of adults, children, and those who were pregnant or breast-feeding.
Even so, getting enough protein and essential vitamins and minerals can be challenging for people who do not eat meat or animal products. People must plan to ensure they get enough protein, calcium, iron, and vitamin B-12, which people on an omnivorous diet get from animal products.
How To Work Out Your Protein Needs
To work out your protein needs, you can use an app like cronometer.
There is also a simple formula you can use to work out how much protein you should be getting on a daily basis:
- Kids ages 4 to 13 = 0.43
- Adolescents ages 14 to 18 = 0.39
- Adults ages 19 to 64 = 0.36
- Seniors ages 65+ and special needs = 0.44 to 0.522
Make sure you choose different sources of plant-based protein to get as many different amino acids as you can. Also, each protein source contains different minerals and vitamins so diversity is key!
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What Plants Are High In Protein
Plant protein is simply a meaningful food source of protein which is from plants. This group can include pulses, tofu, soya, tempeh, seitan, nuts, seeds, certain grains and even peas. Pulses are a large group of plants, which include chickpeas, lentils, beans and split peas.Plant proteins are highly nutritious not only as good sources of protein, but also because they provide other nutrients such as fibre, vitamins and minerals. Our intake of fibre tends to be too low, however by incorporating certain plant proteins into your diet, such as pulses, peas and nuts, you can easily boost your fibre intake. Did you know that our peas, soya beans and green beans are all a great source of plant fibre?
Protein Foods And The Planet
To give you an idea, this scorecard from the World Resources Institute illustrates the differing GHG emissions per gram of protein from both animal and plant-based protein foods. Making just one pound of lamb generates five times more GHGs than making a pound of chicken and around 30 times more than making a pound of lentils. In the U.S. alone, beef accounts for 36% of all food-related GHG emissions. Beyond emissions, its also important to note that food production places an enormous demand upon our natural resources, as agriculture is a major contributor to deforestation, species extinction, and freshwater depletion and contamination.
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Great Protein Sources For Plant
What is protein? For most people, when someone uses the word protein an image of a juicy steak or a morning breakfast with a side of omelet comes to mind. While they are the most common and reliable ways to get your daily protein fix, you would be surprised to find out that various other alternatives are available. Even more surprising is that most of them are not those mentioned above are animal-based foods.
Due to the availability of non-animal-based protein sources, it is no surprise that many people have adopted a plant-based lifestyle. These days, its relatively easy to get enough of your protein needs on a vegan diet. Whether cutting back on meat temporarily or entirely, you will be pleased to know that a vegan diet is an excellent way to keep yourself safe from chronic illnesses such as heart disease. Better yet, it allows for a much healthier and more positive lifestyle then compared to meat-only diets.
Coming back to protein, however, it comes as no surprise that protein is essential in pursuing a truly healthy and fit lifestyle. Finding plant-based protein sources can be a challenge for people new to a plant-based lifestyle thus, this article aims to help people.