Peanut butter contains protein... but does that make it a protein source?
In this episode of The Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian & John build the ultimate Orthodox fasting protein tier list for the Dormition Fast. They rank shellfish, lentils, split peas, lupini beans, bean pasta, pea & rice protein, black beans, chickpeas, nutritional yeast, peanut butter, quinoa, oats, tahini, sourdough, vegan burgers, protein bars, seitan, tofu, tempeh & soy-based imitation meats.
This is not a ranking of the holiest, cheapest or tastiest fasting foods. The central question is much more practical: does this food merely contain protein, or can it genuinely function as the protein anchor of a fasting meal?
Along the way, they explain why shrimp & shellfish earn S tier, why lentils remain excellent without quite reaching the top, why peanut butter & quinoa are commonly overrated as protein sources, why a pea & rice protein blend can outperform either protein alone & why highly processed “Pharisee meats” belong near the bottom.
The episode also moves beyond the rankings to show how to build a realistic, protein-anchored fasting day. They cover breakfast, lunch & dinner ideas for people who use protein powder, prefer whole foods, cannot eat shellfish or struggle with low energy during longer fasts.
The goal is not macro worship, dietary perfection or turning fasting into a nutrition contest. It is to practice obedience, simplicity & stewardship: choose real foods, plan ahead, identify the protein anchor, then stop obsessing & participate in the fast.
Chapters:
00:00 Coming Up
02:20 The Fasting Protein Problem
04:17 How the Rankings Work
07:30 Shrimp & Shellfish
11:31 Lentils
17:26 Peanut Butter
23:24 Quinoa
27:10 Bean Pasta
31:27 Protein Powders
35:58 Restoring Your Energy
36:49 Beans & Supporting Proteins
40:48 Seeds, Tahini, Oats & Bread
47:59 Processed Vegan Foods
52:40 The Final Tier
53:39 Seitan
54:29 Tofu, Tempeh & Soy
58:28 Pharisee Meats
59:36 Fasting Without Burnout
1:00:15 Building a Fasting Day
1:04:30 Whole-Food Alternatives
1:06:09 The Three-Meal Test
1:07:09 Asceticism Is Not Neglect
1:08:06 Stewardship Beyond Nutrition
1:09:18 The True Purpose of Fasting
1:10:11 The Key Distinction
Work with Dr. Mike
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