- DAILY SCOOP 2 -

Going Green

Clean, plant-based proteins are a healthy alternative for those on a vegetarian or vegan diet.

BY TAYLOR HUGO

Organic Pumpkin Seed Protein:

Pumpkin seeds date back to 7,000 B.C., where they’ve been found in caves in Mexico. Pumpkin seeds, also known as pepitas, naturally feature omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus and phytosterols. They are also a good protein option, since they typically provide 7g of protein per ounce. In short, they’re pretty impressive seeds!

Organic Flaxseed Meal:

Another ancient plant protein source is flaxseeds. Flaxseeds are small oil seeds that originated in the Middle East thousands of years ago. They inherently feature omega-3 fatty acids and offer fiber, while being made up of approximately 18% protein.

Organic Hemp Seed Protein:

In 6,000 B.C., hemp seeds were used as food in China, and from 700 to 300 B.C., Scythian tribes left hemp seeds as offerings in royal tombs. And in 850 A.D., Vikings took hemp seeds to Iceland. In short, hemps seeds have a long history of use—and it’s no wonder. Hemp seeds typically have 25% or more of their total calories from high-quality protein.

Organic Chia Seed Protein:

Dating back to 3,500 B.C. in Central America, chia seeds feature omega-3 fatty acids (Alpha-Linolenic Acid or ALA), fiber and antioxidants. Chia seeds a great add to this plant protein matrix, since they’re made up of 16% to 18% protein.

Organic Sunflower Seed Protein:

The sunflower was native to and a common crop among American Indian tribes in North America—with evidence that it was cultivated in present-day Arizona and New Mexico about 3,000 B.C. Featuring certain vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytonutrients, sunflower seeds are a good protein source with about 14% of the calories of sunflower seeds constituting protein.

Organic Watermelon Seed Protein:

Watermelon has been around for approximately 5,000 years and was featured in ancient Hebrew texts and Egyptian tomb paintings. When you think of watermelons, though, you may not think of the seeds. However, watermelon seeds actually offer zinc, magnesium, folate and protein, with about 18% of the calories of watermelon seeds coming from protein.

Organic Plukenetia volubilis (Sacha inchi) Seed:

Commonly known as sacha inchi, sacha peanut, mountain peanut or Inca-peanut, Plukenetia volubilis is native to and has been cultivated by indigenous people of Peru for centuries. It has a similar fatty acid profile as flaxseed oil, and features omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E and protein—including approximately 27% protein by constitution.