What is protein? What is protein?
Proteins are molecules made up of amino acids, which the body breaks down and absorbs in order to rebuild and repair tissues. Humans need about 20 amino acids in order to live, but our bodies can make most of them on their own. Eight of the 20 must be obtained by eating foods that contain them.
What foods contain those essential amino acids?
Nearly every animal food, including dairy products, meat, fish and poultry, contain all eight amino acids. So do the excrement of animals. That doesn't mean you should eat meat or feces. All of your protein needs can be met easily from a diet with a variety of vegetables and grains. (Also see Dr. Attwood's site regarding the myth of "food combining.")
How much protein do I need every day?
Right now, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that protein make up 10 percent of the total calories you consume every day. Since protein has 4 calories per gram, in a 2,000-calorie diet, that would allow for 50 grams of protein. Meanwhile, the national average consumption of protein is about 90 grams daily. Due to the unhealthy, protein-heavy, meat-centered diet consumed in most modern countries, diseases like breast and colon cancer, heart disease and osteoperosis are rampant. If you're getting enough calories as a vegetarian, it is very unlikely you would ever experience a protein deficiency. Other than in starvation situations, the incidence of protein deficiency is practically non-existent.