Protein is one of the macronutrients that are talked about everyday in the health and wellness industry. Since our body cannot store protein like it does with carbohydrates and fats, we need to make sure we consume enough daily through a balanced diet. It’s an essential nutrient for thousands of processes that happen in our body everyday like the formation of hormones, enzymes, immune system molecules, oxygen transport, growth and repair of muscles, tissues, bones, skin, hair and nails. Plus, when we include a protein source in our meals, it helps to keep blood sugar levels stable and have a slow and constant energy release.
Vegetarian and vegan diets are often questioned because it seems like it’s hard to get the daily recommended amount of protein, but it’s certainly possible to obtain optimal levels on a vegan diet. Although plant proteins do not contain all nine essential amino acids (those that need to be obtained from food as our body cannot produce them), we do not need to take them all in every single food or meal. It will be enough to have a varied diet rich in legumes, seeds, nuts, whole grains and vegetables to consume the quantity that our body needs every day to function at its best.