People choose a vegan lifestyle for various reasons. Some are animal enthusiasts, some want a healthier standard of living, and some want to reduce their carbon footprint on our planet. Whatever the reason, vegan diets are rapidly gaining popularity.
There are many schools of thought regarding vegan and vegetarian diets. We’ve been told we need to combine foods that provide the nine essential amino acids needed for our protein requirements. Unlike animal products, grains, legumes, vegetables, nuts, and seeds have limited amino acids that do not make a complete protein, but when combined properly, they create the essential amino acids needed for protein synthesis.
The body does not make the nine essential amino acids we need, so we must get them from dietary sources. However, our bodies manufacture the seven nonessential amino acids. Here are some important terms to learn: