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8 veggies, nuts, and grains with more protein than a burger
By Alisa Rutherford-Fortunati, Care2 When most people think of protein, images of cheese, eggs and a leg of lamb pop into their heads. Did you know though that every - yes, every - whole food contains protein? According to the CDC, adult men need about 56 grams of protein a day, and adult women need about 46 grams a day. But, from your morning banana to your evening salad, you're getting some. It's easier than you think to find plant-based foods that are packed with protein. In fact, many vegetables, nuts, and grains have more grams of protein per calorie than a cheeseburger!
Animal-based proteins are "complete," which means that they contain all the essential amino acids we need to build protein. Some plant-based proteins are "complete" but most are "incomplete," meaning that they are low in one or more of the essential amino acids-but incomplete proteins can be combined to provide adequate amounts of all the essential amino acids.
It was once thought that incomplete proteins needed to be consumed at the same meal for your body to use them together. Now studies suggest that your body can combine incomplete proteins that are eaten within the same day. If you are eating a variety of whole, plant-based foods rich in essential amino acids then your body will be able to select what it needs from each food and create its own protein. Plants are also free from cholesterol and tend to be high in fiber.
A cheeseburger contains 14
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