Difference between animal and plant protein and which is healthier
Monday, March 14, 2022 IST
Difference between animal and plant protein and which is healthier
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What is protein and which one of these 'Animal or Plant' is healthier
If there is one nutrient in the whole body that determines how our bodies function, it's protein. It is one of the important nutrients and forms the building block for muscles, hormones, bones and even blood. This nutrient helps in building and repairing the various tissues present in our body. Thus it becomes inevitable to have a diet that’s rich in protein. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for protein is a modest 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight. The RDA is the amount of a nutrient you need to meet your basic nutritional requirements. In a sense, it’s the minimum amount you need to keep from getting sick and not the specific amount you are supposed to eat every day.
Difference between animal and plant protein
When talking about protein intake, we normally assume animal meat as the basic source of protein and are unaware of the fact that there are several veg foods that are rich in protein too! The main difference lies in the fact that plant protein has fewer amino acids than animal protein, because of which the latter is considered a ‘complete’ protein.
What is 'animal protein'
This protein is quite similar to the protein found in our bodies, so it is absorbed more easily than the protein in plants, It is mostly found in meat, eggs and dairy products. However, it doesn’t mean you should cut vegetables from your diet though, it’s all about balance. The 9 essential amino acids found in animal protein are what make it a ‘complete’ protein and help the body in building muscles and bones.
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What is 'plant protein'
Vegetables are full of vitamins and minerals and have lesser calories than meat or egg. However, they don’t contain as much protein per serving as meat. In addition, the proteins that they do contain are “less complete” than those in meat, as they don’t contain all of the amino acids that the body needs. So how do vegetarians and vegans get all the amino acids they need? Well, they need to make sure that their diet includes a variety of different plant proteins, including nuts, legumes, soy-based products and grains as well as fruit and vegetables. This variety ensures that their bodies get the various amino acids necessary.
Which one is healthier?
This debate is ongoing that ‘which one of them is better’ and is something on which more research is needed. It is true that animal protein provides a complete source of protein, but research has linked it with various negative health effects. On the other hand, plant-based protein provides a wholesome amount of nutrients along with proteins. In fact, several studies have found the overall health of vegetarians to be better than that of non-vegetarians.
The bottom line
Balance is the key! It becomes extremely important that one note down the kind of protein they are having and not overdo anything. If there is a vegetarian/vegan person, he/she should balance the plant-based protein with other foods that provide enough nutrition to the body. And the non-vegetarians must avoid those protein-rich foods that can pose a risk to their health. Have a balanced diet always!
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