"How do you get your protein?" ... In the 17 ys of my journey to a plant-based diet I've got this question innumerable times...So let's dive right into it!
What is Protein?
Protein is a nutrient that is found throughout the human body, in muscle, bone, skin, hair and other tissue.
Protein is made from >20 basic building blocks that are called amino acids.
Our bodies can create the majority of amino acids through building them or modifying other amino acids.
However, 9 of the amino acides (the "essential amino acids") have to come from food.
Why Does Our Body Need Protein?
Our body uses protein for energy, and to build and repair tissues. Protein makes up the hemoglobin that carries oxygen in our blood,
and helps us fight infections. It is recommended that an adult gets at least 0.8g of protein per kg of bodyweight per day,
i.e. 56g per day for a person of 70kg.