Barring oils and some fruits, there’s protein in almost every food. Shocked? It’s true. It would also surprise you to know that a bowl of oatmeal has as much protein as an egg. What is additionally has is a rich amount of fibre, great for those fighting cholesterol, unlike the egg.

The debate around ‘complete protein’ and ‘incomplete protein’ is not just outdated; it is also proven to be irrelevant. Adding to the jaw-dropping moments while you read on, plant-based foods like amaranth, buckwheat, quinoa, and soy have complete amino acid profiles.

Frances Moore Lappé, who advocated the approach of ‘protein combining’ in the first edition of her book Diet For A Small Planet (1971), retracted that theory in the book’s 1981 edition. She not only stated that a plant-based diet provides enough calories and certainly enough protein and other essentials, but also accepted that she reinforced myths around the animal-sourced protein in her earlier book.

Another indisputable fact: No matter how humane, local, pastured, or organic the meat on your plate, it does not offer fiber or the levels of magnesium that are essential. Protein is not the only hero in this movie. There are also Phytonutrients that need the spotlight on the stage of health and wellness. Where do we get phytonutrients from? It’s by consuming whole foods. Think a beautifully peeled orange, freshly bitted into. Oh, the sweetness, the coitus-y mouthfeel with a bite of natural fiber. Compare that to a packaged orange juice, no matter how organic, natural the claims. One would argue with all those Non GMO and guideline approval certifications that backs these claims. The problem is, these phytonutrients cannot withstand the immense stages of processing it takes, before these certified and stamped products reach flashy supermarkets.

Having addressed beliefs against the nutrition value of plant-based food, let us cover the other not-so-talked-about benefits of eating more plants. The bio availability of plant-based meals is irreplaceable. With being a good source of protein, fruits and vegetables are also high in antioxidants. This means they have anti inflammatory benefits that help fasten recovery and are anti-everything bad for us humans.