If you’re someone who is primarily plant-based or vegan you’re likely used to being asked the question ‘but where do you get your protein from’?! Although the world of plant-based eating is exciting and growing, it can also be confusing. The lack of information out there on plant-based protein can certainly be to blame. There are so many amazing benefits of focusing on the consumption of plant-based foods and having the skills and recipes to know how to feel your best on a plant-based diet can certainly be handy.
So what is protein and how much do I need?
First let’s chat about protein. Protein is one of the three macronutrients (alongside carbohydrates and fats) and is a molecule made up of amino acids but to put it simply, protein has the important role of maintaining, replacing and building the tissue in our body. Yeah, you could say protein is pretty important. Without protein it would be quite difficult to build and maintain muscle mass and it can also have negligible effects on your metabolism, immune system and energy levels.
Some of the important micronutrients that can be difficult to get enough of in a plant-based diet include iodine, iron, Omega-3 fatty acids, calcium as well as one very crucial vitamin named B12. Vitamin B12 has the essential role of forming DNA and red blood cells and is generally found in animal protein and milk.
Tips and tricks for getting your plant-based protein in:
There are some handy tips and tricks that might help get your much needed protein in. If you’re on a plant-based diet you’ve likely opted to use some sort of non-dairy milk. Nut milk for example has about 7 grams of protein per cup, additionally almond milk typically has higher contents of calcium and B12 (very important!). BePure has a recipe for a delicious, nutritious and high protein nut milk that you may wish to try out.
Focusing on variety when you’re on a plant-based diet is a great way to get the necessary protein and nutrients that can easily go amiss. There are some actionable ways to do this, for example, sneakily adding seeds to foods that you might not think to add them to, this could be your oats, smoothies, salads or homemade muesli to name a few. Hemp seeds, for example, typically have the highest protein content with 3 tablespoons having around 9.5 grams of protein as well as Vitamin E, potassium, magnesium, iron and zinc. Nuts are another great source of protein, and they’re super satiating! Some examples of nuts' high protein content are peanuts which contain 7.31 grams of protein per ounce and almonds containing 6 grams of protein per ounce. Nuts are also a great source of fibre, calcium and they are loaded with antioxidants.
Meet BePure’s Perfect Protein:
But to make your life even easier, BePure has developed a new high powered plant-based protein powder made perfect by adding BCAAs (Branched-Chain Amino Acids) to provide a complete protein profile and support for muscle tone, energy and exercise recovery; and digestive enzymes to support nutrient absorption and aid bloating and digestion.You can search high and low, but with 28g+ of protein per serve in two delicious flavours, you won't find a more perfect plant-based protein. It comes in two delicious flavours, vanilla and chocolate. And if you add additional greens such as spinach you'll even get a bonus 5.3 grams of protein! Check out our Protein Pancakes and Protein Smoothie recipe ideas for inspiration on how to enjoy your BePure Perfect Protein.
We hope this blog has given you some clarity on how to get your protein in while also enjoying a plant-based diet! Plant-based eating and getting an adequate amount of protein is certainly achievable and we hope this blog has given you some ideas on how to get those all important macro and micronutrients in alongside your meals.
