by Karen Ranzi

Protein is often a source of concern for those working with women following a vegan or raw vegan lifestyle. I have had midwives, doctors and other practitioners contact me to alleviate their concerns about the inadequacy of protein requirements during a raw vegan pregnancy.

There are proteins in everything that grows as long as it’s not refined. If some of our foods are deficient in certain amino acids, this will be compensated by their abundance in other foods. Protein is required for the development of the human baby, but the protein consumed should be of the highest quality. Green leafy vegetables and smaller amounts of a variety of nuts and seeds provide this high level of nutrients. For example, spinach contains 49% calories from protein, kale contains 45% calories from protein, and hemp seeds contain 22% calories from protein. Sprouts are also an excellent source of protein. A pregnant and lactating woman can get all the protein she needs eating whole, raw vegan foods.

Eating meat floods the body with protein waste products. The kidneys then need to eliminate these acidic wastes, requiring calcium as a buffer in the process. Calcium is continually lost in the urinary waste, and may result in osteoporosis or bone loss. Vegetable protein is much more easily absorbed into the bloodstream without the loss of calcium from eating animal protein. Animal-based protein places a great stress upon the liver and kidneys. We should eat the food to which we are naturally adapted: fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds.

Karen Ranzi, author of Creating Healthy Children: Through Attachment Parenting and Raw Foods www.SuperHealthyChildren.com