Since I have become a Vegetarian and especially since I am training for a marathon, the most frequent comment that I get is "You must not be getting enough protein". There are a lot of misconceptions regarding protein and I would like to clear up a few of them.

Contrary to popular belief, it is easy to meet your protein requirements from plant sources. Protein is found in an abundant of plant forms and is in an easy to digest form. For example,  Spinach is 49% protein, broccoli 45% and cantaloupe 9%.

Protein is made up of amino acids. There are 8 amino acids that the body cannot produce and they need to be obtained from food. However, they do not all need to be obtained at the same time. Your body keeps a store of amino acids and takes from the store what it needs to build the required chains. As long as you are eating a variety of food, you will obtain and store the required amino acids. Think about it, where does the Cow get it's protein? From grass! Of course, that is assuming that it is ethically  raised and grass fed......

According to studies such as The China Study, actually 5 to 10 % protein is optimal for health. Excessive amounts of protein has been linked to disease. From that study, Dr. Campbell recommends "10% of energy come from protein. This is considerably more than the actual amount required but because requirements may vary from individual to individual, 10% dietary protein is recommended". Good sources of protein include, vegetables (especially the green, leafy ones), some fruit, grains, sprouts, nuts, seeds, spirulina and bee pollen.