Proteins are popularly known as the building blocks of the human body and rightly so. It is one of the most vital macronutrients that our body needs to survive and function properly. Since our body doesn’t have the ability to store enough protein, we need to include as many protein-rich food sources in our daily diet as possible.
There are two major sources or groups of food that provide us with an abundance of protein: plants and animals.
While there are a few people who assert that as long as you are consuming enough protein, the source doesn’t matter, be it plant or animal, there are many others who claim that plant-based proteins are better than animal-based proteins.
Take a look at a few reasons why the latter claim is actually true and what factors make plant-based proteins more superior than animal–based proteins.
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They Are Complete Proteins
The debate between plant–based proteins and animal–based proteins has led to quite a few misconceptions, such as that plant proteins are lesser or inferior to animal proteins. However, that is far from the truth because you don’t have to include meat in your diet in order to consume enough amounts of nutrients.
An important thing to understand here is that you don’t need to consume all nine essential amino acids at the same time for the body to function normally. As long as you eat different types of foods over a period of a few days, you are good to go!
Also, there are many plant–based sources such as quinoa, chia seeds, and spirulina that are, in fact, complete proteins, and they do contain the 9 essential amino acids that our bodies require.
Reduced Risk of Diseases
There’s no denying the fact that meat consumption has always been associated with a high risk of diseases such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and heart conditions, to name a few. Plant–based proteins consist of very low risks of acquiring any of these diseases and illnesses.
Furthermore, plant–based diets greatly help lower blood pressure levels, keep the cholesterol levels in check and promote overall increased health and well-being
Increased Sustainability
Plant proteins are considered to be highly sustainable, considering the fact that the production of animal products contributes to as much as seventy–five percent of overall agricultural emissions.
Whereas on the other hand, the production of animal proteins such as lentils, peas, and beans, minimal resources are employed, which means that they are less resource-intensive.
High Amount of Fiber
It is a commonly known fact that plant proteins contain high amounts of fiber, and animal products are completely void of fiber.
Fiber is an extremely important nutrient that helps improve blood sugar and cholesterol levels in the body, makes us feel full for longer, and keeps our digestive system balanced and in check.
This suggests that eating plant proteins will help improve your overall health and keep everything under control as compared to animals based proteins.
Bottom Line
While both animal and plant–based proteins offer their fair share of benefits for our health and body, we can’t ignore the fact that plant proteins are much healthier, better for our body, and they promote an overall improved lifestyle.
