Protein, protein, protein… (Berkeley Acupuncture)

As Chinese medicine practitioners we are always concerned about the amount of protein a patient is getting especially if they are trying to have a baby.  As a rule of thumb, a person should consume up 1/2 gram of protein per body weight, some sources even say that should be up a pound!  That’s a lot of protein!!!  So, for the sake of not eating chicken for breakfast (which I have!)  Let’s talk about a yummy option…  protein powders!  Protein powders can make breakfast totally versatile, low cost and FAST!

There are many kinds of protein powders out there, way more than there used to be.  Of course, we have SOY, which wouldn’t be my first choice since most of it is GMO and it messes too much with the hormone, estrogen.  Second most popular is WHEY, which is a fine choice.  People that are lactose intolerant shouldn’t have a problem with whey since it has very little lactose, especially whey protein isolate, but I don’t personally care for the taste, oddly, it makes my tongue itch!  Remember egg white protein powder?  I hear that’s still around, although I don’t see it very often.  Then there’s the vegetarian options, RICE, PEA and HEMP.  All of these are great options and I think are helpful in getting protein without overdoing things in the animal protein category.  Hemp has a little less protein per serving and can have a gritty taste, so I usually don’t do too much of it.  Pea always has a weird taste for me.  So, that leaves my favorite, RICE protein powder, non allergenic, not gritty and neutral tasting.  I mix it with smoothies or even with some Greek yogurt to really get a popping 40+ grams of protein in one sitting.

My favorite smoothie…

2 Scoops of Rice Protein Powder

1/2 frozen banana

3/4 cup of frozen broccoli

1 1/2 cups of water or oat milk

1 teaspoon of Maca (a Peruvian adaptogenic herb)

1 teaspoon of raw cacao powder (AKA chocolate)

1 apple or 1 teaspoon of honey

Vitamix it up and YUM!  Totally balanced and so nutritious!

Christina “Mei Wen” Martin, L.Ac., Dipl.AC, MTOM, FABORM.

christina@berkeley-acupuncture.com

Christina Martin is the founder of Tao to Wellness. She is an Acupuncturist, Chinese Herbalist and Teacher and has been in practice for fifteen years.  She holds a Master’s Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is a fellow of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine.  Christina entered Acupuncture school without ever having an Acupuncture treatment. She simply felt it was her calling.