Sincetherearefewfoodsthatarecompletesourcesforallthenecessaryaminoacids,avegetarian
needstowiselyincludefoodsthatwillprovideadequatesourcesforalltheneededaminoacids,such
aslegumesandgrains.However,aspreviouslydiscussed,mostgrainshavemucus-formingqualities.
Forthepurposeofthisprogram,thebestgrainsourceismillet,followedbyquinoa.Alsosoy
products(soybeans,soymilk,tofu,etc.),containmostoftheproteinsneededandhaveotherimportant
additional benefits.
Duetonaturaldifferencesinbodytypes,somepeoplemaybeallergictosoyproducts.Thereareoth-
ervegetariansourcesforprotein,whichcanbeeatenintherawstateaswell:saladgreens,mostother
vegetables,avocado,sproutsandnuts.Herbssuchasspirulinaandalfalfaarealsorichsourcesofpro-
tein as well as other important vitamins and minerals.
Thehumanbodydoesnotneedexcessiveamountsofproteintobeingoodhealth.Itonlyrequires
fiftygramsofproteinperday,whichamountstoabouttenpercentofthetotalcaloriestakeninas
food.Toomuchproteinfromanimalspredisposesonetocalciumdeficiencies,heartproblems,colon
cancer,aswellasotherproblems.Vegetariansourcesofproteinarealsomoredigestiblethanthean-
imalsources.Soinreality,lessproteinisneededifitcomesfromthevegetariansourcetomeetthe
same need.
NOTE:Somerawfoodistssaytheydonotworryaboutthisissueofproteinandgettingthe“right”
aminoacids.Theyfeelthatthebodyeventuallyadaptsandmakeswhatitneeds,asevincedbythe
factthattheyhaveneverhadaproblemduetonutritionaldeficiencies.Howelse,theysay,canyou
explain animals like the koala bear that exists on a diet of only eucalyptus leaves?
PROMOTING GOODDIGESTION
in·di·ges·tionn.1.Inability to digest or difficulty in digesting something, espe-
cially food.2.Discomfort or illness resulting from this inability or difficulty. 137