Thinking about proteins

Here is an article on the question that bothers many people who are thinking of changing their diet to a vegetable-centered one: what about the proteins? Will I get enough? What happens to my health if I don't get enough? Will I become sickly and pale and waste away until one day my cells just give up and I collapse into a puddle of goo? Kathy Freston's article on the AlterNet site will calm your concerns (it did mine, but not Juliette's -- she's always telling me not to worry so much). For anyone thinking about going vegetarian but can think of a multitude of reasons for not taking the leap, her article on changing your diet is worth reading and may even help get you started on the path to well-being.

To sum it up: eat plenty of beans, grains, and seeds. Protein foods made from soybeans are plentiful: tofu, etc. If eggs are on your list, cook up an omelet. Smoked salmon is a good way to get protein and vitamin B 12. So quit fretting, which can lead to hypertension and other maladies you don't need and can easily avoid.

Kathy Freston's summation is worth quoting in full.

When you consider your choices--heart disease, colon cancer, plus-size pants, melting ice caps, gale force storms, and animal suffering vs. good health, energy, a trim physique, a livable planet, compassion, and tasty, diverse foods--it's clear that going vegetarian is an excellent choice as we move toward living a more conscious life.

Well-being for the whole system (mind, body, etc.) is based on living a conscious life, focused and mindful. If you do that, the air smells a whole lot fresher, because you will go on and eliminate all the chemicals. Go on. Be obsessive.