Food For Thought: The Joys And Benefits Of Living Vegan

For decades, U.S. dietary guidelines have linked “protein” with animal products. Even as the visuals evolved—from the “Basic Four” to the Food Pyramid to MyPlate—the message stuck: protein means meat.But protein isn’t a food group at all. It’s a macronutrient made of amino acids—the building blocks your body uses to build muscle, repair tissue, produce enzymes and hormones, and support immune health. And here’s the thing: your body doesn’t care if those amino acids come from lentils or chicken. They’re identical at the molecular level.So why does animal protein still get the reputation for being “better”? And what does the science actually say about how much protein we need—and from what sources?In this episode, I talk about:* How U.S. dietary guidelines shaped our view of protein — and why many still think “protein” means “meat”* How protein functions in the body, what amino acids are, and why plant and animal amino acids are identical* Why the RDA for protein is a minimum, not necessarily optimal, especiall