What type of protein is best for human health? (Photo: Adobe. Do not use without permission)
We need protein because it is a vital component of our muscles, hair, nails and collagen a connective tissue protein that holds your body together. Protein is also needed to make your brains messengers (neurotransmitters), hormones, red blood cells and DNA. Another important role that protein plays is in maintaining a healthy immune system.
But not all protein is created equal. Each protein molecule is made up of small building blocks called amino acids. We can make some amino acids ourselves but there are nine that the body cannot make, so they must be obtained from the diet. These are called essential amino acids. A varied plant-based diet provides more than enough protein and all the essential amino acids in sufficient amounts (1, 2, 3, 4).
All plant wholefoods contain all essential amino acids. However, some plant foods contain less than perfect amounts of one or more amino acids they do not lack them altogether, they simply contain less than the ideal amount. Because of that, it was suggested that we should always combine certain plant foods to ensure the optimal amino acid intake at every meal. This theory has long been rebutted science has proven that protein combining is absolutely unnecessary, provided you eat a varied diet with enough calories and not just one plant all day every day (1, 5).
Meat contains all the essential amino acids in sufficient amounts, which is why some people believe its a better protein source but it certainly isnt good for your health. Excess animal protein has been linked to some cancers, heart disease, osteoporosis and kidney damage more on this below.
An average person needs 0.8 gram of protein daily per kilogram of bodyweight (or 0.36 gram per pound). So for example if you weigh 70 kg/ 155 lb, you need around 56 grams of protein a day. If youre building muscle, do challenging physical work or train hard, youll need to increase your protein intake up to 1.4-2 g per kg of body weight daily.
Its so easy to get enough protein on a plant-based diet that protein deficiency is virtually unheard of in developed countries. In fact, most of us get too much protein thats how easy it is.
Excellent sources of protein include soya products (edamame beans, tofu, tempeh, soya milk, soy yogurt), black beans, kidney beans, baked beans, lentils, chickpeas, whole grains and products made from them (brown rice, whole wheat pasta, wholemeal bread, oats, quinoa, buckwheat), nuts and seeds of all types. Plant protein powders may also be useful if youre busy, prefer liquid meals or want to increase protein content of your meals.
Tofu is an excellent source of plant-based protein(Photo: Adobe. Do not use without permission)
Foods are not just single ingredient items. Protein-rich foods also contain many other nutrients, other compounds and sometimes toxins, too. Thats one of the reasons why plant and animal protein have such different health effects.
Plant protein usually comes together with fibre, antioxidants, complex carbs, beneficial phytochemicals, vitamins and minerals a health-promoting package. Animal protein usually comes with some vitamins and minerals, is devoid of fibre, but has plenty of unhealthy saturated fats and a diverse mixture of toxic and cancer-causing compounds (6, 7).
Another reason why plant protein is beneficial for us whilst animal protein can cause harm is the different amino acid proportions. Animal protein containing more sulphur amino acids than plant protein these form sulphuric acid in the body which is very strong. Your body neutralises it by using calcium readily available in the blood or muscles but if there is a consistent supply of animal protein, theres too much acid in the body and some calcium may be released from the bones (8).
Animal protein also sends the kidneys into overdrive for hours after ingestion their blood vessels dilate and let some protein molecules through into the urine (9). The kidneys should not let any protein through so protein in the urine is a sign of abnormal kidney response. Plant protein doesnt trigger this response and has been recommended over animal protein for people at risk of or suffering from kidney disease for many years (10, 11).
Lastly, theres one more reason why animal protein is bad news for our health - it contains high amounts of phosphorus and these can, over time, lead to kidney and bone mineral disorders (12). Plants also contain phosphorus but its bound in a hard-to-digest form so much less of it is absorbed by the body in a nutshell theres no risk of excessive intakes.
Kidneys are our trustworthy filtration system, removing waste products from the blood and excreting them in urine. If we eat foods that dont put an extra strain on them, they work well. However, animal protein makes them work hard and it may result in a reduced filtration capacity and some molecules leaking through not ideal. If we overload them daily, theres a higher chance we develop kidney disease. Data from a study spanning over 23 years suggest that animal protein from red and processed meat in particular seriously increases the risk of kidney disease later in life (13). The same study also revealed that plant protein from pulses and nuts has the opposite effect it lowers the risk and seems to have a kidney-protective effect. And a recent review agrees, plant-based diets significantly lower the risk of kidney disease and can even halt the degree of damage in people with compromised kidney health (14, 11).
The higher volumes of acid resulting from animal protein also stress the kidneys. On the other hand, plant protein producing much less acid is not only gentler on the kidneys - it also helps us not to waste calcium to neutralise large amounts of acid, which is important for healthy bones (15, 16, 11).
Several studies highlighted that its because plant protein comes with a number of other nutrients that it has such a beneficial effect on our kidneys and bones (17,18, 19, 20).
You can reduce yourrisk of heart disease by swapping outanimal protein in favor of plant protein(Photo: Adobe. Do not use without permission)
Plant protein is also great for the heart. If you swap plant for animal protein, it markedly lowers your risk of heart disease (21). Its not only the effect of the protein but the whole plant foods that support a healthy heart and circulation. Substituting plant protein for animal protein decreases cholesterol and other fats in your blood and helps to keep your blood vessels healthy (22).
And theres yet another reason why animal protein is bad news insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Its a growth hormone naturally produced by your liver, vital to childhood growth and stimulating cell growth and reproduction in adults. However, IGF-1 also promotes cancer cell growth and thats why increased IGF-1 levels are dangerous (23). Scientists warn that whey proteins from dairy products cause a rise in insulin, IGF-1 and growth hormone levels in the human body (24). The association between IGF-1 and cancer is the strongest for prostate cancer (25) and there is also substantial evidence for the same mechanism and breast cancer (26).
Plant protein doesnt stimulate these changes and vegans have been found to have significantly lower levels of IGF-1 than meat-eaters (27, 28, 29).
We have billions of bacteria in our guts. They help us process food and our diet determines which bacteria species thrive and which do not. These bacteria are also called gut microbiome and they have a huge influence on our immunity, gut health, inflammation and energy levels. Some are good and beneficial, others not so much and can even produce toxic by-products.
Animal products rich in protein and fat promote the bad bacteria that release toxins into our bloodstream. Some of these bacteria use a meat compound - carnitine - as an energy source, and produce trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) as a waste product. TMAO is a dangerous substance that stimulates the build-up of cholesterol plaques in your blood vessels (30). It means a regular meat intake increases your risk of heart disease through yet another mechanism.
Plant wholefoods, rich in plant protein, fibre and complex carbohydrates feed the good bacteria that have a positive effect on our health (31). Thats why vegan diets keep your gut wall strong and healthy, lead to lower levels of body inflammation and a stronger immune system (32, 33, 34).
The health consequences of consuming animal or plant protein cannot be more different. Whilst plant protein offers a vast array of benefits, animal protein harms our health.
A comprehensive study spanning over two decades found that animal protein increases the risk of premature death by up to 23 percent (35). Do we need another reason to switch to a wholefood plant-based diet for good?
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Vegan Or Animal Protein? The Science Shows Which Is Better - Plant Based News
