Where to get protein

[pan.droid]

Almonds are no longer really raw... where are the best and easiest ways to get protein?

I thought about raw tofu, but i don't think there is raw unpasteurized tofu in my area. I also eat spinach, but I don't think i could eat THAT much every day. The reason I ask is because today, about two months into my raw experience, I felt really lousy and got all negative about the diet and feel that this must have been the result of a deficiency. I am thinking this is protein because I take a multi-vitamin for everything else (such as B12).

On a seperate note: is it normal to feel particularly lousy a couple months into the raw foods diet (considering I have been eating a fair and varied amount of food)? What do you, generally, eat each day?

Thanks,

Pan.Droid

[StarFire]

grapefruit is also supposed to be an excellent source of protein.


and - feeling lousy - maybe you were going thru detox? I know I've been raw since April 2007 and I still have phases where I'm detoxing for a day or two... or even longer... I just ride it out and know it's only my body getting rid of some deep down stuff and I'll be feelin fabulous again soon!!

blessings on your journey!

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/Summer.gif ... RAWK ON!

[rawsurfer]

I felt kind of disillusioned with how I felt a few months into the raw food, as I really didn't feel OUTSTANDING or anything. What has been working for me is lowering my fat intake, and getting my calories from fruit. I eat lots of celery and make green smoothies, and every now and then have a huge salad (which is basically when I get my fats). Dehydrated food, or too much dehydrated food, really drags me down. Salt and too many spices does this as well. Also, I feel lousy when I don't excersise, or when I don't live up to my potential. But I can assure you, killing all the nutrients in your food WILL NOT HELP. If you feel dissatisfied with the variety of the dishes you are eating, then make some new exciting raw meals. But a cooked diet, high protein diet, or animal based diet is only going to be detrimental to your health. As an athlete and student, I can testify to the wonderful benefits in many different aspects of life that eating raw, living foods has given me.

[Madeleine.Blythe]

I've felt pretty lousy these passed couple of days.. I was forgetting everything, not really feeling intuned to anything.. it does go away, though.. eventually. it's well worth it, it's just the detox.. we'll be feeling great soon enough. =)

As for the protien.. I don't pay much attention.. I just eat what my body craves (obviously raw)... and i'm good to go. I'm very athletic, and have had no problems. I don't go on a pursuit for protein or anything though.

[Rawkinlocs]

Here is some great info on protein:
http://rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=3296

And this may explain why you've been feeling a bit "lousy":
http://rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=3206

[Riiiya]

i remember reading somewhere that we detox harder during the change of seasons.... Errr- i have no idea where i got this info, but i am having a couple of crappy days myself :(
I tried to link this to less exercise or too many nuts (i don't overeat them, it's just that i realize i eat them every day)

[Nurse in the Raw]

We really don't need that much protein to sustain biological needs. Read The China Study.

[chriscarlton]

If you are worrying about protein, you are most likely a victim of advertising & marketing from the animal foods industry. We’ve been taught that we desperately need animal protein, but nothing could be further from the truth. Protein deficiency caused by diet is only found in cases of severe starvation.

Many plant foods have protein, and plant protein won’t kill you. Both spinach and broccoli have near twice the protein of beef. A diet of nothing but potatoes will give you enough protein.

It’s amazing to me how many in the raw and vegan world do not know about “The Protein Myth”. It is all, 100% spin and marketing by the animal foods industry. Just the same as “The Calcium Myth”. Absolute hogwash!

I first heard about protein in vegetables in 2003, from the film ‘Eating’. An amazing documentary that won the Raw Food Film Festival this year. The people who made the film have the following website to support their film. The website has an extensive resource list. http://www.ravediet.com/

Here are some other sources…

http://www.freedomyou.com/recipes/Vegetable%20G…

http://www.healthrecipes.com/healthy_diet.htm

http://www.purelyraw.com/whyvegan.htm

Beef is aprox. 23% protein compared to…

spinach-49%, broccoli-45%, lettuce-34%, cauliflower-40%, kale-45%, zucchini-28%, cabbage-22%, Chinese cabbage-34%, Mung beansprouts-43%, bamboo shoots-39%, wheat germ-31%, strawberries, oranges, cherries, apricots, watermelon, and grapes-8%, lemons-16%, honeydew melon-10%, navy beans-26%, mushrooms-38%, pumpkin seeds-21%, soybean sprouts-54%, oats-15%, whole wheat-17%, walnuts-13%, pecans-5%, & filberts-8%

Veggie List Source: Nutritive Value of American Foods in Common Units, USDA Handbook No. 456

This information is refering to the percentage of calories being protein. In Broccoli, 45% of the calories are protein. In Beef, 23% of the calories are protein. A ‘cup’ is a measure of volume, not calories or even weight. Beef is more dense, so it will have more protein than broccoli, when compared by volume. A cup of Beef has many more total calories than a ‘cup’ of broccoli, it also weighs a lot more. Broccoli is 91% water, while beef is only 54% water.

It pointless to compare protein content by volume. For example, comparing a cup of lettuce, to a cup of beef. It’s obvious that the cup of beef is much more dense than the lettuce, which would weigh almost nothing. I hope all this makes sense.

If you have not seen ‘Eating’, it’s available on DVD for about $15. Everyone in the world should see this film. It promotes a Vegan diet, not Raw. Even though, it is a Fantastic Film!

Lovebows, Chris

[Madeleine.Blythe]

Here is some great info on protein:
http://rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=3296

And this may explain why you've been feeling a bit "lousy":
http://rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=3206

Thanks dear. =)
I read some of this a while ago, before the detox kicked in.. I can relate it a lot more now.

[Lukychrm42]

Changing seasons, as beautiful as they are, can have some effects on our bodies that we don't really think about- changes in barometric pressure seem largely responsible. I know that my symptoms go through a particularly severe period in certain times of the year and then my body seems to adjust and they go back to regular symptoms (lol).

As for protein-
most of us know that foods very high in protein actually leach calcium from your bones to digest, and that they are very difficult to digest, and moreover, that we don't necessarily assimilate protein directly from sources of "complete" proteins. Rather, as I have heard recently and like to think, our bodies make proteins from amino acids, which we'll get from plant foods..so as long as you have a varied diet and get enough calories, then you shouldn't have any problems with getting enough protein.

[Revvell]

As Chris says... anyone who's concerned about protein is a "victim of advertising & marketing from the animal foods industry"...

My question is, why protein? IF someone's not getting enough of one nutrient, it's pretty much guaranteed they're not receiving enough of any nutrients and, as Chris also said ~ They're starving.

You know what's interesting? I know people who live on soft drinks, chips and candy and no one asks them "Where are you getting your protein?"

ALL fresh, raw, natural foods have protein. ALL of them! Yes, fruit too! AND, as so many have stated, it's not foods that have "protein" per se, it's the amino acids that come together to give the body the protein it needs.

Revvell

[Green Life]

Grains are high in protien.

[EmJo]

Almonds are no longer really raw... where are the best and easiest ways to get protein?


I think almonds are a better fat/calcium source than protein. But FYI you can still get organic unpasteurized almonds at http://rawfromthefarm.com.

[rawsurfer]

You know what's interesting? I know people who live on soft drinks, chips and candy and no one asks them "Where are you getting your protein?"
Revvell

I absolutely LOVE this point, and make it all the time! It is so backwardly hilarious. Haha how can WE be nutrient deficient????!!! Nutrient come from plants! THERE IS NO OTHER SOURCE!!!!!!!!!

[rawsurfer]

Also, it is possible that the multi vitamins and supplements that you are taking, which are in their inorganic state, are doing harm to your body, causing it to expend extra energy to detoxify them from your body.

[EZ rider]

Also, it is possible that the multi vitamins and supplements that you are taking, which are in their inorganic state, are doing harm to your body, causing it to expend extra energy to detoxify them from your body.I've wondered about that for a long time. Shortly after taking a vitamin supplement I have noticed that my pee turns yellow. Does this mean my body is eliminating it because I can't use it ?

[RawKev]

I've wondered about that for a long time. Shortly after taking a vitamin supplement I have noticed that my pee turns yellow. Does this mean my body is eliminating it because I can't use it ?

That is correct. Vitamin B2 (a.k.a. riboflavin) is responsible. Most multivitamins have pretty high concentrations of B2. I used to take multivitamins before I was raw and even when drinking tons of water would still get very bright yellow urine. If you are eating a well round diet high in dark greens and fruits then there is no need for multivitamin supplementation in my opinion. One kiwi fruit has far more vitamin C than the daily recommended requirements. Fresh raw foods are a far superior source of vitamins and minerals.

[rawsurfer]

I also notice that when I eat just a tiny amount of nutritional yeast. My pee is bright yellow and I get really dehydrated. I don't eat that stuff anymore.

[irishserra]

...Avocados...Yum!!

[RawHeaven]

If you are worrying about protein, you are most likely a victim of advertising & marketing from the animal foods industry. We’ve been taught that we desperately need animal protein, but nothing could be further from the truth. Protein deficiency caused by diet is only found in cases of severe starvation.
.....



Chris, thank you so much for posting this information. I was just speaking to my sister about this and now I have some concrete information to back it up with. :)

[lore-ah]

There's a debate going on in another forum I read (not raw based) about protein deficiencies being linked to obesity. Basically someone read some study that said people that don't get enough protein tend to have strong urges to overeat in order to get said protein.

I'm just watching from the sidelines since I don't want to get into it with a bunch of weight lifters, but it's funny how basically they are all arguing how much protein Americans get and still saying we don't get enough!

[Marcus]

I throw hemp seeds in my smoothies. They have an excellent protein and EFA profile.