I need more protein... please share sources

[Snow White]

I am feeling like I need more protein. Please tell me the best/easiest ways to get it. I have so much to learn!

Thanks!

[RawVee]

Do you have Alissa's book? She has a really great explanation of how we get protein (our bodies use amino acids to make it). Basically, you can't go wrong with lots of dark, leafy greens. Also, nuts and sprouted seeds and grains are fantastic sources of protein. But if you're new to this, I highly recommend Alissa's book. It's a raw bible.

[Revvell]

I'm curious to know what it feels like to need more protein. Sincerely!

There was a loooong thread on this recently. You might wish to do a search on it and, as RawVee said, if you've not gotten Alissa's book and dvd's, you may wish to pick them up. LOADS of good information.

Revvell

[Snow White]

Thank you! Yes, I do have Alissa's book and DVDs but I just recently got them and haven't had a chance to really read alot of the book yet other than flipping through the yummy recipes. Honestly, as a newbie, it seems huge and overwhelming, in a good way, but still a LOT to take in all of a sudden. With my schedule I can only take small portions of time to get into it. In the meantime I am trying to jump into the raw thing.

I did look in the index for protein but didn't see it, guess I better take time and do my homework!

[honeybee joy]

Chlorella and Spirulina are good sources of protein. I believe they are 70% protein. The hemp powder is suppost to be good for that. I have been putting a little bit of spirulina in my smoothies and I think it helps balance out the sugars in it, because I have blood sugar issues, and it has really made a difference. It has also helped me not to crave sweet raw treats or lots of raw chocolate stuff.

[chilove]

Hello there,

I promise that you are getting enough protein as long as you are getting enough calories. It simply isn't a concern or reason to worry at all. Relax and enjoy being raw!!! You are getting way more nutrition now than you ever have before. :-)

All the best,

Audrey
www.rawhealing.com

[juliebove]

I'm curious to know what it feels like to need more protein. Sincerely!

There was a loooong thread on this recently. You might wish to do a search on it and, as RawVee said, if you've not gotten Alissa's book and dvd's, you may wish to pick them up. LOADS of good information.

Revvell


Tired, hungry and weak. At least that's how I feel. But I'm not talking raw diet here. I'm talking about how I feel when I follow the diet I'm supposed to eat for gastroparesis. And that's mainly low fiber, highly processed foods.

[juliebove]

I am feeling like I need more protein. Please tell me the best/easiest ways to get it. I have so much to learn!

Thanks!

Most sprouts are high in protein. So are nuts and seeds. I like pumpkin seeds a lot! And some of the nut cheeses.

[Revvell]

Actually, I'm asking Snow White. Those symptoms could mean any number of things... such as not assimilating enough nutrients of any kind.

Revvell


Tired, hungry and weak. At least that's how I feel. But I'm not talking raw diet here. I'm talking about how I feel when I follow the diet I'm supposed to eat for gastroparesis. And that's mainly low fiber, highly processed foods.

[RawBecky]

Tired, hungry and weak. At least that's how I feel. But I'm not talking raw diet here. I'm talking about how I feel when I follow the diet I'm supposed to eat for gastroparesis. And that's mainly low fiber, highly processed foods.

You mean you're tired, hungry, and weak on a low fiber, highly processed diet? That makes sense to me. That means it's low in enzymes that occure naturally in the fruits and vegetables that will give you energy. If you're new, you most likely are going through detox, so you may not feel the energy right away.

[Sleek98]

Lentil and other sprouts. I thought I read somewhere recently that 6 cups of lentil sprouts have 50 grams of protein! So, sprouts are a cheap and nutritious way.

[SmilingRawDancer]

I've read that the "craving" for protein tends to mean that you need fats.
But I don't think that you said you're craving protein, I'm getting the gyst that you're having some symptoms and feel that protein is the answer to them.
I feel better when I eat fats, period. A day without walnuts is like....not a day. ;)
So I'd eat some nuts, drink fruit juices (those perk me up like CRAZY, and they don't feel heavy in my stomach like smoothies do.)

And always up the greens. Maybe you need some iron from spinach. Alot of times I'll notice a lack of energy in myself, and when I analyze what I've been eating I'm always lacking spinach (iron.)

:) Good luck, feel better, and eat what you feel like. Some days I just feel like banana ice cream and coconuts all day. Go for it.

[Snow White]

Actually, I'm asking Snow White. Those symptoms could mean any number of things... such as not assimilating enough nutrients of any kind.

Revvell

Oops, sorry. I didn't mean to miss that question. The reason I felt I was not getting enough protein is that I did feel tired, a bit hungry and weak but also (this is probably repeating the above) - I didn't feel fueled. I had a real hard time with my workout yesterday even though I drank coconut juice mixed with a mango beforehand. It is also that TOM (sorry if TMI), but I usually feel drained then and in the past have gone for the biggest juicest burger - I'm not really craving the burger, just the full I felt from it and the energy I felt I had afterward.

Today is a better day. I just feel like I am grabbing things because I don't know what I am doing and want to do this as balanced as I can.

Thanks everyone for all the info I really appreciate learning here.

[lafsalot]

Snow White - If you have just recently started transitioning to raw, the symptoms you described are most likely due to detox.

With re: to your question about protein - Allyssa addresses this in the Need to Know More Forum under Protein. ~ Cathy

[Veganforlife]

Chlorella and Spirulina are good sources of protein. I believe they are 70% protein. The hemp powder is suppost to be good for that. I have been putting a little bit of spirulina in my smoothies and I think it helps balance out the sugars in it, because I have blood sugar issues, and it has really made a difference. It has also helped me not to crave sweet raw treats or lots of raw chocolate stuff.

This is very interesting but since I've also added a tablespoon full daily of both spirulina and Alissa's green powder, I haven't craved the raw chocolate stuff. Don't get me wrong, I would eat it if I've prepared something, but the "need" to have it is not. Does that make sense? Sorry to hijack thread.

Snow White - darlin' - how long have you been raw? And are you 100%? You are probably tired because you are detoxing. I would strongly, strongly suggest if you are serious about becoming raw to thoroughly read Alissa's book. Take a highlighter, take the book, the highlighter and go into the bathroom with it, if you can't find any other time to read it. Read a section of it each day in there, or even a paragraph or two a day. It is loaded with so much information. It is THE BEST book out there. Trust me. I have 'em all - now. I got hers first and wanted a complete raw library. I feel like Alissa is talking to me when I read it. Highlighting certain portions of it will let you be able to quickly find information.
I don't think Alissa will mind my posting this:
Quoting Alissa Cohen’s book - Living on Live Foods:
“What about protein?
This is by far the question I’m asked most frequently.
Protein does not create protein in your body. Amino acids create protein in your body.And the best source of amino acids are leafy green vegetables.
When you eat meat, fish, or chicken, you’re not getting as much protein as you think you are. Take chicken, for example. Say there are 20 grams of protein in a chicken breast. Once you cook it, you destroy half the protein. Now your body has to digest and assimilate this heavy, dense source of 10 grams of protein, that will take up to 100 hours. How much do you think is getting stuck in your body as toxic waste by the time it reaches your colon? How much protein from a cooked chicken breast will you actually get? May be a few grams, if your’e lucky.
Many green vegetables are excellent sources of high quality protein. A bowl of uncooked greens or spouts may only contain a few grams of protein, but you can digest and assimilate all of it because they still have all of their vitamins, minerals, and enzymes intact. This makes this protein far more useful to your body.”
________________________________________
Taken from www.naturalzing.com the spirulina product contains:

This Hawaiian Spirulina delivers:
• Antioxidant Vegetable Nutrition - Nature’s richest source of carotenoids
• B-Complex Vitamins - Supplies Thiamin, Riboflavin and Vitamin B-12
• Iron - A daily dose provides more iron than two cups of spinach
• A complete protein - Richest source by weight in the plant and animal world
• GLA - Building block for nature’s anti-inflammatory healing, an essential fatty acid.
• Contains many other phytonutrients and food co-factors like Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD)

Hawaiian Spirulina is packed with nutrition:
300% more calcium than milk
2300% more iron than spinach
3900% more beta carotene then carrots
375% more protein than tofu

http://www.naturalzing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=293

Hope this helps somewhat. Don't start off worrying about if you're getting enough of this or that. Enjoy. Keep it simple and enjoy. It's fun being raw. Like Revvell always says, "Play with your food!"

[zenpawn]

Are those percentages on a per calorie or by weight basis?