Month 30

May 21, 2026

I have learned more about my improved protein intake to make things less expensive. I found a Lycine powder (L-Lycine) supplement that goes directly into the Vital Wheat Gluten flour. It not only makes things less expensive, but I find it improves the taste and texture. Two grams of L-Lycine is one teaspoonful, and costs only 7 cents a day, half the pill supplement.

I also discovered a less expensive Vital Wheat Gluten, from Micronutrients: Premium Vital Wheat Gluten. I bought one, but want to finish the first one before I open the second one. It’s 6 lbs for $25, instead of 4lbs for the same price. I am using about 4 pounds a month to get 50 grams of protein a day. so instead of $25 a month, I am getting it for $17 a month. Yes $8+ $2.10 a day for $10.2 a month savings isn’t much, but as I continue to economize everywhere, it really does start to add up. It makes the switch from tofu to Vital Wheat Gluten add up to $82.20 a month, almost $ 1,000 a year! And I didn’t even compare to when I used to eat beef. I happened to like filet mignon, which when I checked in the stores, costs anywhere from 30 to 50 a pound? Who is buying that now? I used to get it for $15 only 3 years ago.

Anyhow, the best of Science to Everyone !

May 12, 2026

Now well into Month 30, I have improved how I get my protein. As a largely vegan, it is a challenge to get my 50 grams or more of protein a day. I have been relying on tofu, which I manage to consume about 10 oz a day for what looks like 30 grams of protein. But I feel like my muscles are weakening and I am a bit lackluster. I was originally just chalking it up to age, as I am about to turn 71. I forget exactly how I learned about it, but I have now turned to “Vital Wheat Gluten” for my primary protein source. I picked up a 4 lb. bag of powder from Amazon for $25. It’s 85-90% protein. I learned it’s missing the lysine, so I picked up a lysine supplement, and take 2 grams a day of lysine. I consume 1/2 a cup of Anthony’s Vital Wheat Gluten, prepared as a dough by mixing in some water, covering it in a bowl for 20 minutes, and then slicing into cubes. The cubes go into my vegetable soup, where it cooks.

A 1/2 of a cup gives me 48g of protein, and then 2 grams of lycine brings my protein to 50g a day. The 4 lb bag yields thirty 1/2 cup servings at $25, which is about 80c a day. Add 14c for two lycine supplement pills, make it 94c a day.

The tofu costs $2.75 for 14oz with a total of 42g of protein. I struggled to eat an entire 14oz, but if I did, that would be $2.75 a day, and 50g would be $3.32 a day. So switching saves me $2.38 a day, which comes to $72 a month which, for me, is significant.

I have been doing this for 2 weeks now, and I feel a lot more energetic, and my muscle tone has improved. More minutes in the garden before I need to take a break!

Best of Science to everyone.