Complementing Proteins

Protein is required for growth, body repair, and maintenance. Serious injuries or illness require extra protein. If we do not get enough protein, our bodies will steal it from our muscles.

Our bodies use 22 amino acids to make 50,000 (that's what it said) different proteins we must have to be healthy. Our bodies can make all but eight. These eight are called "essential amino acids" as we must get them from foods we eat. The only foods which contain all eight of these building blocks are meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and milk products. Soy protein is equivalent to animal protein and has all eight (plus one extra) of the essential amino acids needed to make protein in the body.

Planning meals around these complementary food combinations will provide the complete proteins needed by the body. In many cases it will be better than a meat protein. Complementing proteins should be eaten within the same day.

Wheat + Beans
Wheat + Milk
Beans + Milk
Cereal + Milk
Rice + Legumes
Rice + Milk
Rice + Wheat
Cereal + Legumes

(Source: "Food Storage Recipes - Using only the ingredients contained in the One-Month Basic Food Storage Kit", pg. 34)

Protein Sources

Wondering how to afford enough protein for your long-term storage?

"Dried Beans, or Legumes, are one of the best protein sources on the planet. People all over the world have been eating them for thousands of years. They keep a long time, are easy to prepare, and cost very little. When they are cooked they more than double in weight. 1 cup dry beans makes 2 1/2 cups cooked beans.

Complete Protein: When beans are combined with a corn product, meat or milk based food, they form what is known as a complete protein. Complete proteins are more nourishing for your body than beans eaten alone. Therefore the old standbys like Pork 'n Beans, Pintos and Cornbread, Split Pea Soup with Ham, and Succotash (Corn and Lima beans), provide more complete proteins, than when eaten alone. When beans are combined with other foods to make complete proteins, the combinations can be exceptionally good tasting."

(Source: www.bulkfoods.com/bean.htm)