Name some great ways to get protein. If no plant products were in your answer, you're missing a great way to keep your blood pressure under control. People who have better blood pressure also have diets high in vegetable, not animal, protein.
Researchers aren't sure why veggie protein lowers this key health measure, but they suspect that the amino acids (the building blocks of protein) in veggies may somehow be kinder to blood pressure than those in animal protein. And the magnesium and other good for you nutrients found in veggies may work with the amino acids to enhance their blood pressure friendly effects. Plus, the lack of saturated fat in veggie protein may allow your arteries to relax, which also lowers blood pressure.
Some top protein-packed veggie favorites, Edamame (soybeans) and kidney beans, both hold more protein per cup (17 g and 16 g, respectively) than a serving of turkey does (12 g in 3 ounces). Green peas are no slouches, either, with 9 g of protein per cup, followed by Portobello mushrooms and spinach (5 g per cup), corn and broccoli (4 g per cup). Other ways to get more protein without reaching for a steak knife, Grab a handful of nuts (4 to 6 g per ounce), and make sure your grains are 100 percent whole grains.
That doesn't mean you can't have any animal products on your plate. Just let the vegetables and grains take center stage and consider the other proteins to be more like accents. Not only will meals be more interesting, but keeping your blood pressure where it should be, at or below 115/76, can make your RealAge as much as 12 years younger.
