Plant proteins alone can provide enough of the essential and non-essential amino acids. Plant foods contain the same eight amino acids as animal foods do, only in differing amounts. As long as you are getting enough calories, variety and energy from a healthy diet, plant foods give you all the amino acids you need, by themselves or in combination with one another. Excess protein has been linked with osteoporosis, kidney disease, calcium stones in the urinary tract, and some cancers. Add some of these alternative protein sources to your daily menu.

1. Soy foods - tofu, tempeh, miso, soy milk
2. Sprouted seeds - flax, sesame, sunflower, pumpkin
3. Grains - amaranth, quinoa, rye
4. Beans/Legumes - chickpeas, green peas, pinto, white
5. Sea vegetables - spirulina, chorella,
6. Vegetables - turnip greens, asparagus, collard greens, spinach, zucchini
7. Nuts - brazil, walnut

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