When we think of protein, our natural tendency is to think of meat. Many believe that without animal protein we are unable to get high quality or complete proteins. This however is not true. Ive also laid out a great protein-rich recipe with quinoa to tempt your taste buds.I want to take us back to basics and cover how proteins are made and what a complete protein really means. Protein, is made up of amino acids. There are 20 amino acids that can build a protein, 9 of which the body cannot produce on its own. These 9 amino acids are referred to as essential amino acids. In order to be considered complete, a protein must contain all 9 of these amino acids in roughly equal amounts. Do you remember those candy necklaces some of us used to wear as kids? The necklace would represent one complete protein, while each candy would represent one amino acid. The entire necklace can represent a complete protein. Its a good visual to understand how a protein is created.Why We Need Regular Protein ConsumptionHumans do not need to have every amino acid in every meal we eat. A varied diet will create a pool of amino acids that the body can use. Its important that each day, we consume enough of the right amino acids to produce proteins. That is because there is no reservoir of protein stores in your body like there is with carbohydrates (glycogen) or fats (grab your love handles). So...
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