Which proteins should you put on your plate? Looking after your skin also goes hand in hand with a varied diet, and protein is one of the nutrients that deserves a place in balanced meals, alongside your skincare routine. If you want to cut down on animal protein, plenty of plant foods can take over. Some of them are a great source of protein!
These plant foods are easy to cook, pair well with lots of dishes and fit nicely into a varied diet. Here is our pick of the best plant-based protein sources.
Why protein deserves a place in your meals
Protein is one of the main nutrients found in food, alongside carbohydrates and fats. It is found in:
- animal foods such as meat, fish, eggs and dairy products
- many plant foods such as legumes, seeds and nuts
Protein-rich foods help you put together complete, balanced meals, which is why they have an important place in a balanced diet.
The best sources of vegetable protein
Spirulina
Spirulina is a type of algae. You can use it in savoury dishes or desserts. Adding it to your daily smoothies is an easy way to include it in your diet.
Some people also like to apply spirulina directly to their skin, as a simple step in their skincare routine, for example before their CelluBlue Cup massage.
Pumpkin seeds
Despite their small size, pumpkin seeds are a good source of plant protein. No need to eat large amounts: a single tablespoon sprinkled over your salads or soups is enough to vary your intake. Dry-toast them in a frying pan for a few minutes to make them extra crunchy.
Soya
Soya is a great plant-based protein and can be eaten in all sorts of ways. You can add soya milk to your drinks at breakfast, or add soya beans to your salads or vegetable stir-fries. Soya is also the base of tofu, one of the most complete plant proteins as it provides all the essential amino acids. Tofu can be pan-fried, marinated, crumbled into a vegetable stir-fry, diced into a broth or blended into a sauce.
Nuts
Almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts… Eating a handful of nuts is a good way of adding variety to your diet. You can also add nuts to your biscuits, cakes, smoothies and homemade cereal bars.
Chickpeas
This type of legume is very versatile. Chickpeas are easy to add to many dishes.
Chickpeas and their fibre deserve a place in balanced, varied meals. They work just as well in hummus as in a salad or a curry, or roasted in the oven for a crunchy snack.
Chia seeds
Chia seeds are tiny seeds with a mild taste and very easy to use. Like pumpkin seeds and soya you can easily add them to your smoothies, or your salads. You can also sprinkle some over your dishes.
Chia seeds also stand out for their omega-3 and fibre content. When mixed with water, they form a natural gel (mucilage), handy for making puddings or thickening a yoghurt. You can also stir them into porridge or pancake batter. Store them in an airtight jar, away from heat.
Quinoa
Quinoa is a pseudo-cereal that is particularly versatile. Quinoa is easy to cook and can replace rice and pasta in your everyday meals. A blog post of our favourite quinoa recipes will be coming soon!
Quinoa also provides magnesium and manganese. Rinse it well before cooking to remove its bitterness, then serve it in a salad, a tabbouleh or alongside fish or roasted vegetables.
How to include these proteins in a balanced diet
To keep things interesting, the ideal is to spread your protein across the day’s meals. For example:
- yoghurt with chia seeds or a soya milk smoothie at breakfast
- chickpeas or a quinoa salad at lunch
- tofu with vegetables at dinner
Pairing these protein sources with vegetables, fibre and fruit makes for a varied, balanced diet.
Is protein enough to tackle cellulite?
No: protein has its place in a balanced diet, but no single food will make dimpled skin disappear on its own. Instead, you can think in terms of an overall routine that combines a varied diet, a physical activity you enjoy and massages as part of your beauty routine.
Protein is just one part of an overall healthy lifestyle. It’s usually the combination of several things (a balanced diet, regular exercise and massages as a skincare ritual, for example with an orange peel massager) that makes up a complete routine.
See you soon for more tips & recipes!
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- How to manage cellulite when you have big thighs
- Spirulina: What You Need to Know About This Microalga
- Does a sisal mitt really work against cellulite?
Useful categories: Anti-Cellulite Diet, Anti-Cellulite Solutions.
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