Where Do Raw Foodists Get Protein?

It’s a huge question that comes up when people find out that you have a 100% raw veggie based diet…

Where do you get your protein?

Sadly, we have been raised with very little education about where protein comes from and generally assume that you can only get it from animal products like meat, chicken, fish, or dairy products.

This is not true.

Protein is actually everywhere in nature – and there are tons of animals on the planet who benefit from protein without having to eat their own kind or other little living critters.

As I’m into raw food juicing right now, look at all the sources I have for getting amazing amounts of protein:

spinach–49% protein
broccoli–45% protein
lettuce–34% protein
cauliflower–40% protein
kale–45% protein
zucchini–28% protein
cabbage–22% protein
Chinese cabbage–34% protein
Mung beansprouts–43% protein
mushrooms–38% protein
lemons–16% protein
honeydew melon–10%
strawberries, oranges, cherries, apricots, watermelon, and grapes–8% protein

Source: Nutritive Value of American Foods in Common
Units, USDA Handbook No. 456

Any of the items on this list can be juiced or blended along with other fruits and veggies and turned into delicious drinks that will give me all the protein I require.

On a chart here with levels of proteins for cow steak, the one with the most protein is a boiled steak and it only has 32 % protein. Not too shabby, but fresh spinach has 49%!

Plus, when you blend your spinach and your protein-rich greens, you get to absorb the protein much better than if your body has to digest it out of a big hunk of cow muscle that you just swallowed.

Protein is EASY to get through fresh raw food if you’re leading a raw-food lifestyle (or vegan or vegetarian for that matter…)

You just have to know the truth about where it comes from so that you can give yourself plenty of these fresh green leafy veggies.

Here’s a quick fun recipe to get some protein in ya:

Fruity Green Smoothie (With Natural Protein!)

• 2 C water
• 2 handfuls baby spinach
• 1 frozen banana
• 1.5 C frz blueberries
• 1 orange (peeled)
• Dab of agave to taste for sweetness

Blend and get ready to smile!