5 Quality Vegan Protein Sources!
As all of us should know by now, a diet rich in protein is essential in maintaining a healthy body. Not only is protein the building blocks for muscle repair and growth, it also plays other essential roles in the body. It’s critical for healthy hair and nails, helps in reducing hunger and cravings and assists the body in fighting against illness and injury.
When people think of protein, their immediate thoughts are usually directed to animal sources (meat, eggs etc) or supplements (protein powders).
While there’s nothing wrong with these protein sources, they can be hard on the body to digest – especially with the quantities of meat that is being consumed on a daily basis.
Below are 5 surprisingly high protein sources which aren’t sourced from animals!
#1 Spirulina: Spirulina is a blue-green algae, packed with protein. 1 TBSP provides 4g of protein plus a range of health benefits from anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties through to lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol. Granted the taste isn’t amazing, but the health benefits far outweigh the taste!
#2 Broccoli: A cruciferous vegetable packing 3gms of protein per cup.
Along w
ith tonnes of fibre to help keep you feeling full, broccoli also is stacked with vitamin K and C which assists with building new collagen cells in the body.
#3 Nuts/Nutbutters: While these are a mix of fats and proteins, nuts are a delicious source of protein and can keep you full for a long time. Ideal in the afternoon or at evening, the fats and protein combined in nuts will digest slowly in the body – perfect for satisfying cravings or repairing the body while sleeping. 100gm of peanutbutter yields 25 gms of protein while 100gms of cashews provide 18gms of protein!
#4: Tofu: Despite the persistent rumours that tofu can cause issues in the body by elevating estrogen levels, which is completely unfounded, tofu is known as an excellent source of protein, containing 16.5gms per 100gms.
While the flavour isn’t amazing, tofu is excellent in absorbing spices, sauces etc so if you’re looking to make the most out of tofu, be sure to season or marinate it before cooking.
#5 Nutritional Yeast: You’re probably thinking ‘what the hell is that’? They’re dried flakes that have an amazing 14gms of protein per 30 gram serve. They taste like a mix of cheese and vegemite (absolutely delicious!) and are an excellent source of all B vitamins including B12.