237 - Protein! Plants! Power! with Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina

Episode • Jul 5, 2023 • 1h 11m

If you are vegan or vegetarian, at some point, someone, somewhere, has probably asked you how you get enough protein. It’s a common misconception that a plant-based diet is deficient in protein. However, in their new book, Plant-Powered Protein: Nutrition Essentials and Dietary Guidelines for All Ages, our guests today, dietitians Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina, debunk the myth that you can’t get quality protein without eating animals. The book provides an abundance of evidence for why plant protein is, in fact, the superior choice. This is their 7th book together and their 20th in total, many of them bestsellers.

Brenda Davis is widely regarded as the Godmother of Vegan Dietitians. You might also remember Brenda from her amazing appearance on episode #92 of the Switch4Good podcast.

Vesanto Melina is a consultant for the government of British Columbia and recipient of the prestigious Clintec Award for leadership in dietetics.

Tune in to hear these plant-based pioneers set the record straight about the incredible power of plant protein! “We had been doing studies to figure out how good protein was, and they were done on weanling rats, four weeks old, and these little rats could double their weight in four weeks if they were fed cheese or meat. And those studies have still been a foundation for some of the protein quality assessments. For example, in Canada, we’re still using Protein Efficiency Ratio as a standard. And not that many people I know, in fact, I can’t think of one that I’ve met, want to double their weight in four weeks like these little rats did.” – Vesanto Melina

What we discuss in this episode:

Why plant protein is superior to animal protein for human health and the environment.
How to get all essential amino acids on a vegan diet.
The myth of protein combining and the foods that are most important to eat in order to get enough protein on a vegan diet.
Tips for parents to ensure their toddlers get enough protein and calcium.
The remarkable benefits of a vegan diet for children.
How much protein do humans actually need at different stages in life?
The importance of movement and using your muscles as you age.
Ways to boost protein intake for seniors.
The value of spending time outdoors.
What to look for and avoid in a protein powder.
Delicious meal preparation tips.