These days, everyone is all about the protein. Omelettes and Greek yogurt for breakfast. Grilled chicken for lunch. Protein shakes, beef jerky, turkey slices, and hard-boiled eggs for snacks. It seems that no matter where you look, someone is talking about the exact amount of protein you need to feel great and look even better.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s all fine, but what if you\u2019re a vegetarian? Are you destined to live a life filled solely with tofu steaks<\/a>, tempeh cubes<\/a>, and frozen meat substitutes?<\/p>\n According to nutritionists, there\u2019s no need to fear. There\u2019s one food that we should all be eating more of if we want more protein, whether we\u2019re vegetarian or not: Legumes. Better yet, they say that we eat them a certain way, we\u2019ll get all the protein we need while also reaping a ton of other benefits.<\/p>\n The benefits of legumes<\/p>\n Health experts have long praised the benefits of legumes<\/a> and pulses like lentils, beans, and peas. \u201cAs a high fiber and high protein food, legumes have particularly been reported to reduce the risk of diseases including coronary heart disease, obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, or strokes,\u201d notes<\/a> The Healthcare Review at Cornell University.<\/p>\n Legumes are not just an excellent source of plant-based protein and fiber, but they may help you maintain a healthy weight, too. For example, Dr. William Li<\/a>, an expert in metabolic issues, frequently notes that beans are one of the three foods (along with tomatoes and capers) he recommends for balancing the metabolism because they feed the gut microbiota<\/a>. Another expert in the field, Vani Hari<\/a>, also promotes the high content fiber of legumes for weight loss and increasing longevity. And, Dr. Oliver Courtin-Clarins<\/a> says that \u201cthe results of six clinical trials suggest that the consumption of pulses reduces the percentage of fat in the body. Including legumes in the diet allows a slight decrease in weight without restricting caloric intake.\u201d<\/p>\n Add rice to create a complete protein<\/p>\n There\u2019s a reason \u201cbeans and rice\u201d is a staple dish in many cultures. The classic plant-based combination creates what\u2019s known as a \u201ccomplete protein\u201d because it contains all nine essential amino acids<\/a>\u2014just like animal protein.<\/p>\n