Protein myths
Protein is an essential part of our diet. The body uses is it to build up muscles and in many cases foods like chicken or a hamburger are tasty, if not always good for you or socially acceptable. High protein diets have become the rage in recent years, but eating a long term high-protein, low carbohydrate diet is not healthy, as if this sentence needs to be repeated. Despite all the information available on proteins and whether they are good or bad for you, a few common myths have developed over the years, some of which are related to proteins found in plants.
The first and most common protein myth is that vegetable matter is low in protein. True, the proteins in plants are not as high as those found in meats, but a person can get by with eating high protein plant foods and skipping meats altogether. (This is true only for adults; however, small children should not be given a vegan diet.) Now this does not mean you need to give up the consumption of meat as it is a good source of protein and other minerals like iron, only that you can get it from plants. Be sure to pay attention to other vitamins and minerals that may be missing if you try to eliminate meat altogether.
The second most commonly mentioned myth about plant proteins is that proteins in plants are incomplete and you need proteins from more than one source to give the body all the essential amino acids it needs to build up muscle mass. The author or this theory recanted it well before her death, although the work it came from Diet for a Small Planet remained more popular than her later works were which recanted it. Most of the plants you eat that are rich in protein will give you enough of the essential amino acids for the proper function of your body.
Now the third myth may seem like a contradiction of the earlier one when I say that high protein diets are not bad for you. Well, keep in mind that first paragraph said high protein, low carbohydrate diets are bad for you. If you are eating high cholesterol foods for a long period of time, it may not be good, but if you use sources like lean meats and nuts, you will be getting enough protein for high energy workouts such as weightlifting. Just remember that when eating a high-protein diet that your eye is still on a well balanced diet overall.
There are many myths about proteins and some are simply just an opposing viewpoint. The average person does not need to worry too much about the types of protein he is taking in or the protein content of the vegetables that he eats. (Though it should be known that broccoli is the richest green leafy vegetable source. That probably will not get your kids to eat it, though.) If you are a body builder or do not eat meat, be sure to keep an eye on how much protein you take in.
