It can sometimes be difficult to know where or when myths start, but one thing for sure, is that they abound. In reality, society is run on myths. Which might explain the global mess we are in. In this article I want to bust the protein myth.
Protein seems to be on everyone’s lips. How much protein do you need? What are the best sources of protein?
Let’s look at a typical western diet.
Breakfast – cereal with milk and/or toast with margarine and a sweet conserve
Lunch – fast food or a white sandwich with meat or cheese
Evening meal – fast food, frozen food or home prepared food typically of animal protein and vegetables
This provides you with an animal source of protein three times a day. Maybe more, if you have snacks.
Animal protein makes humans very acidic. If you are acidic, disease abounds.
Cooking alters protein, making it less easily utilised by your body. It can also release chemicals, such as acrylamide, which are hazardous to your health.
How much protein do humans actually need? You may be surprised at the answer, but it is only 10% of your diet. You only need one tenth of your food to be protein to have a healthy body.
Protein abounds in vegetables. And most vegetables have way more than 10%. The potato is the vegetable which has the lowest protein (and most other nutrients, too), at 10%. So even the humble spud, which is comparatively nutrient poor when compared with other vegetables, have as much protein as you need on a daily basis.
If you have a healthy diet with an abundant variety of fresh vegetables, you will consume all the protein you need to be active and healthy.
Body builders and top performing athletes are particularly susceptible to the protein myth and consume higher than average quantities of animal protein in the mistaken idea they will perform better. In fact, they don’t perform as well as those athletes who consume little or no animal protein. And they are increasing their risk on contracting any and every illness.
Protein must abound in plants. How else do the herbivorous animals, such as horses and cows, grow to full maturity in a single year? Growing young need higher amounts of protein, than do adults. Yet these large animals grow to their non inconsiderable size in a fraction of the time it takes a human child to mature.
Douglas Graham has written an excellent book on the best diet to get to peak performance for athletes.
Consuming animal protein three times a day is hazardous to your health. At most, you should consume it two to three times a week, preferably less.
Healthy Eating For Weight Loss shows you how to be healthy and slim, without any restriction on the amount of food you can consume, and with the best sources of protein.
