"So how do you get your protein?"

When stating that I no longer choose to eat animals, an obligatory response from the carnivores of the world is to look at me and inquire with a puzzled look “So how do you get your protein?” This has become almost comical for a variety of reasons. Here is just the short list:

1.) Have you ever heard of anyone suffering from a protein deficiency? Ever. Of course not. The question gets posed regarding protein as if this is some dire emergency situation--OMG how am I going to get my protein?! ((GASP)) If I don’t eat steak and chicken and turkey will I be protein deficient?!?! This makes me giggle.

2.) Anyone in their right mind would know that the dairy and meat industries in this country have done a fine job through use of manipulative advertising and backwards food pyramids to warp the minds of every being on the planet into believing that without eggs, milk, and animal products we will somehow have an inadequate amount of protein in our diets. This is one of the most well orchestrated deceptions told to the American public. I am educated so I know this is inaccurate and it’s just another means to make more money through the use of false information.

3.) I always want to respond by saying a statement like “Why do you care?!” Or “How do you get your anti-inflammatories?” <----which would sound as dumb to them as the protein question does to me.

Why are meat eaters so fricking obsessed with protein anyway? And why do people think that meat is the only thing that has protein in it?! Nuts, beans, tofu, vegetables, and a variety of other things contain protein and a healthier form of it at that. I shouldn’t have to give some quizzical prick a run down on all my protein rich vegetables and nuts I consume only for them to murmur a “Hmm” response. I don’t have to justify my diet to you although I would love to educate the uninformed carnivores out there and state a few facts such as:

1.) The Western diet contains an almost excessive amount of protein. Too much protein can be harmful and stress out your kidneys and disable your organs from ridding toxins from your body. Perhaps that is why vegetarians have a 60% less chance of heart disease and cardiovascular disease. Not to mention a 50% reduction in the rate of cancer. Also, other countries consume almost 50% less protein than us Americans and are about 70% healthier. They also get the majority of their protein from plants. Think about it.

2.) It has been proven ten times over that we do NOT need that much protein to maintain a healthy diet averaging around .36 grams per pound of body weight. I am not a heavy weight lifter that bases my diet around massive protein consumption so my day does not revolve around how much protein I’m consuming. I don’t think about it because I don’t need to and besides I get more than enough protein in my belly by 8 a.m. every morning by a fabulous vanilla whey protein shake and some organic peanut butter.

3.) The way I get my protein through plants is actually healthier as well because meat has to be cooked prior to consumption. Any idiot knows that up to 50% of protein is lost through this process leaving little to be absorbed during the digestion. My spinach and veggies eaten raw are easily absorbed amino acids and turn into direct energy while maintaining ALL of their beautiful protein. My digestion is easier and my poop is cleaner. Just sayin’

4.) A person would actually have to “try” to become protein deficient on a vegetarian diet. Eating fruits and vegetables and getting enough calories makes it impossible to not get enough protein. Unless you are surviving on beer, sugar, white bread, and processed foods it would be almost impossible to not get adequate protein on a vegetarian diet. People that live in poor countries and have bloated bellies are likely deficient in protein but that is because they are starved in general and lacking most every vital nutrient.

5.) Most people have been lead to think that all nine essential amino acids must be taken into the body through the same food and that since no one fruit or vegetable contains all nine amino acids that the vegetarian diet somehow contains “incomplete” protein consumption. Bullshit. This myth was dismissed in the 70’s and there has never been any proof behind the original theory.

6.) If you look good, feel good, and have adequate energy and a quick recovery time from illness you are likely getting enough protein. Also protein from vegetables doesn’t come with fat, cholesterol, and carcinogens. It’s clean. It’s better for the planet and better for your health.

So all you people who think the only way to get protein is through eating dead animal flesh, think again. Go educate yourself and munch on a bowl of raw broccoli while you do it. That vegetable has twice as much protein as your medium-well slab of steak thank you very much.