Building Blocks

Proteins are made up of amino acids. When we eat proteins, our body has to break them down into amino acids before we can absorb and use them. Breakdown or digestion of proteins takes place mostly in the small intestine. Amino acids are then absorbed through the small intestine into the blood stream.

Our body uses amino acids to build the proteins we need. There are 20 different amino acids that our body uses to make proteins.

Is chocolate healthy?

Cocoa powder is healthy. It is also a good way to cover up the taste of soy for those who aren't accustomed to it. For example, I often get enough protein in to meals by adding a chocolate protein shake.

1 cup nonfat milk
1-2 tsp cocoa
2 heaping tablespoons soy protein powder
Splenda or other 0-calorie sweetener to taste (1-2 tablespoons?)

Blend or shake in jar with lid to mix up.

The best protein powder I've found is at Trader Joes. It doesn't have added sugar and isn't so expensive, but you do have to buy a large jug of it at a time.

Vegetarian Venture - Tutorial #1a

I forgot to include PREGNANCY needs. (I hope to get better at blogging as I go along...) In the second half of pregnancy, multiply your prepregnant weight (or adjusted weight, if applicable), by 0.5 to get grams of protein needed per day.

Vegetarian Venture - Tutorial #1

How much protein do we need?

Protein needs are based on lean muscle mass. There is no easy way to measure this so we estimate it based on weight. Use the following to calculate ideal body weight (IBW) or adjusted body weight (ABW):

www.globalrph.com/ibw_calc.htm

If the 3rd yellow line, “Percent over/under ibw” is 20% or more, then you will use the weight in the second line, Adjusted Body Weight as your weight. Otherwise, you use your actual weight and if you are pregnant this would be your pre-pregnant weight.

Take that weight and multiply it by 0.4 and that is the estimate of the number of grams of protein you need per day.

Any questions?? (I love them...)