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Vegetarian's Guide to A Protein-rich Diet

Vegetarian's Guide to A Protein-rich Diet

by Dr. Trupti Shirole on Aug 26 2023 7:08 PM
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Highlights:
  • A Harvard study found plant-based protein sources linked to reduced heart disease risk
  • Foods like besan, tofu, and paneer can help to up your protein intake
  • Plant-based protein sources also provide essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals
Protein is a necessary macronutrient that performs a variety of important tasks in the body, ranging from tissue repair to immune system strength (1 Trusted Source
Metabolic advantages of higher protein diets and benefits of dairy foods on weight management, glycemic regulation, and bone

Go to source
). Vegetarians are frequently protein deficient, but this may be remedied by including the essential foods in your meals. To maximize benefits, plant-based proteins can be added to any meal of the day.

Plant-Based Proteins Lower Heart Disease Risk

People who get their protein from plants have a lower risk of dying from heart disease and other reasons, according to a 2016 Harvard University study (2 Trusted Source
Association of Animal and Plant Protein Intake With All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality

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). People who live an unhealthy lifestyle and are obese should strive to acquire their protein from plant sources in particular. Physically active adults require 1.4 to 2.0 g/kg protein daily (3 Trusted Source
The effects of consuming a high protein diet (4.4 g/kg/d) on body composition in resistance-trained individuals

Go to source
).

Vegetarian Foods to Increase Daily Protein Intake

Besan (Chickpea Flour)


Chickpea flour, often known as besan, is a high-protein flour prepared from ground chickpeas. It's a great plant-based protein source that provides both protein and dietary fiber. Making pancakes with besan increases the protein content of the dish significantly.

Brussels Sprouts


Brussels sprouts provide 8g of protein per 100 g. They can boost the protein value of a meal while also adding a crisp crunch and healthy fibre.

Tofu


Tofu is a staple in plant-based diets manufactured from soybeans. It is a complete protein, which means it contains all of the essential amino acids required by the body. 20g of tofu spread contains 1g protein.

Paneer (Indian Cottage Cheese)


In Indian cuisine, paneer is a popular dairy-based protein. It contains a high concentration of casein protein, which is slowly digested and can give a prolonged supply of amino acids.

A combination of these protein-rich foods can help you to meet your daily protein requirement. It also contains a variety of amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that are necessary for overall health.

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References:
  1. Metabolic advantages of higher protein diets and benefits of dairy foods on weight management, glycemic regulation, and bone - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25757894/)
  2. Association of Animal and Plant Protein Intake With All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27479196/)
  3. The effects of consuming a high protein diet (4.4 g/kg/d) on body composition in resistance-trained individuals - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24834017/)
Source-Medindia


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