Two Great Sources of Vegan Raw Food Protein

One of the first questions people ask when they hear that I'm a vegan raw foodist is, "Where do you get your protein?" The assumption is that you need animal products as a protein source - meat, cheese, butter or eggs.

It's an understandable assumption. After all, isn't that what we've all been told via the media and advertising? But the truth is, while all those products are indeed protein-rich, they're not the only way to go. Protein is an important part of the human diet, playing a part in everything from brain function to muscle development, and it may be readily obtained from plant sources - raw, in all its enzyme-rich glory.

Here are two foods I turn to for a protein fix:

Raw Almond Butter

Almonds have the highest protein content of any nut. They compare favorably with other foods, too. A cup of almonds provides 27 grams of protein, as much as you'd get from a roasted chicken breast, and more than you'd get from three ounces of beef sirloin (which offers only 22 grams). Almonds also have quite a few other things going in their favor. Rich in manganese, vitamin E, magnesium, tryptophan and copper, they've been proven to boost weight loss, promote colon health and prevent gallstones.

A delicious way to consume your almonds is via raw almond butter. The flavor is sublime - nutty, with a hint of sweetness. It's tasty on flax seed crackers or just about anything, but frankly, I usually wind up scarfing it straight from the jar. My favorite brand is Rejuvenative Foods. It's significantly more expensive than its competition, but the company goes to great lengths to keep the product as healthful as possible. Typically, grinding causes almond butter to get quite hot when it's being processed, essentially leaving you with a product that isn't quite as "raw" as the label claims. Not so with the organic butter from Rejuvenative Foods. Their product is ground at low temperatures to retain enzymatic integrity.

Rejuvenative Foods Fresh Raw Almond Butter - http://www.rejuvenative.com/catalog_oab.htm

Hemp Protein Powder

The hemp used in these powders comes from the same plant species as marijuana, but don't worry, you won't get high consuming it. Hemp protein powders are made from a special strain of the plant that bears almost no THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the chemical that causes marijuana to leave you with that stoned feeling. Here's how the powder is made: Whole hemp seeds are cold-pressed to remove the oil; what's left is a dry "cake." Next, the cake is milled at low temperatures to get rid of some of the fibre. The end result is an incredibly concentrated form of protein. Hemp protein powder also contains all nine of the essential amino acids.

I consume my protein powder as part of a smoothie that includes a green powder, a teaspoon or two of flax seed oil, and some stevia for sweetening. I have that for breakfast in the morning, and I find it gives me lots of energy to face the day.

There are quite a few brands that sell quality, organic hemp protein powder. I brand I usually purchase is Nutiva, since it tends to be least expensive. .

Nutiva Organic Hemp Protein Powder - http://www.nutiva.com/products/0_protein.php