Plant Protein vs. Animal Protein: How do they produce energy?

  • comments 1
  • views7,131

Difference between Plant Protein and Animal Protein

Protein is one of the most important parts of the diet, and when the subject comes up, the differences between animal protein and plant protein are often up for contention. In this comparison article, we take a look at the key differences and similarities between each type of protein.

Plant Protein
Animal Protein

Where You Can Get Them

Plant protein comes from a variety of plant foods such as beans, nuts, grains and various other vegetables and fruits. Animal protein on the other hand comes from lean meat, fish, poultry, eggs and dairy products.

Benefits

Plant proteins have the benefit of containing no cholesterol and saturated fats unlike animal protein. In general, people who get their protein from plant sources are less likely to suffer from blood pressure and heart related diseases. Plant proteins are also good sources of beta-carotene, fiber, vitamins C and E, folate, iron, magnesium and calcium, and they can lower blood cholesterol, as well as reduce the risk of incurring certain diseases. And of course, plants in general are good sources of other minerals, vitamins and antioxidants.

Animal proteins do have the advantage of containing more amino acids. In fact, animal protein is considered the best type of protein, since all the amino acids are present. While soy protein does have most of the amino acids, it still lacks methionine. This is one reason why vegetarians benefit from getting their plant protein from a variety of vegetable sources, using a practice that is known as protein combining or protein complementing.

Drawbacks

The main drawback of plant protein is the absence of certain important elements found in animal protein. Even the best plant proteins lack essential amino acids such as leucine, methionine and lysine.

Animal proteins are generally better quality proteins than their plant derived counterparts, although they do have drawbacks of their own. For one thing, ingesting large amounts of animal protein typically means ingesting large amounts of fat and cholesterol as well. This has the effect of increasing the levels of low-density lipoprotein or LDL cholesterol as well as the total blood cholesterol in the body. This in turn increases the risk of obesity, which leads to a whole host of health problems such as atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease.

Animal protein also produces acidic by-products when they are digested, and these by-products contain high levels of phosphorous. If the liver and the kidneys are unable to handle the levels of acidic by-products, liver and urinary system problems may result.

Similarities and Differences

Plant protein

  • Comes from a variety of plant foods such as beans, nuts, grains and various other vegetables and fruits
  • Containing no cholesterol and saturated fats
  • Good sources of Beta-carotene, fiber, Vitamins C and E, folate, iron, magnesium and calcium

Animal protein

  • Comes from lean meat, fish, poultry, eggs and dairy products
  • Considered the best type of protein, since all the amino acids are present
  • Produces acidic by-products when they are digested

 
 

comments 1 Comments

  • Epeli Nailatikau (MD) . 3+ yrs. ago

By the very nature of our anatomy of our body,we are not cannibals,our teeth do no have sharp canines,to tear out flesh,and our molars are flat and not sharp to chew bones and animal tissues,and our gastric juices are so weak that it cannot digest meat,especially Hydrochloric acid,are several times weaker,than animals,that can digest bones etc,raw flesh etc.So we should not recommend it for human consumptions,we are not animals,and our Creator create our anatomies and Physiology to eat plant based diets.The whole world is sick ,mentally,spiritually,and physically because we are disobedient to the instructions of God who created us.So we can say that the animal protein differs from plant-basedd protein in that it is responsible for the ills of the worid today.

Post a Comment
  • Name*
  • Email*