Nowadays, plant-based protein is a big trend among those focused on health, vegetarians, vegans, those who want to reduce meat consumption, and those who worry that livestock farming is detrimental to the Earth’s atmosphere. But many questions still arise for people deciding whether or not to jump on the bandwagon. Is plant-based protein really good? And what’s the difference between plant-based protein and animal protein? To answer these questions, we’ve collected some key information here.

Plants...another source of protein

Plant-based protein is continually gaining increasing popularity among consumers and there are many reasons for this. This kind of protein comes from a variety of plants, such as soybeans, peas, dried beans, nuts, black beans, red beans, chickpeas, chia seeds, brown rice, quinoa, sunflower seeds, guava, bananas, broccoli, spinach, asparagus, potatoes, sweet potatoes, sunflower kernels, and others. It is available from plants in fresh, dried and processed forms aimed at matching the taste, aroma and color of animal meat.

Plant-based protein vs animal protein

Although both plants and animals provide the body with protein, protein from the respective sources has different properties. Here are the key comparisons:

·       Plant-based protein has fewer calories per gram than animal protein.

·       Plant-based protein contains less fat than animal-based proteins.

·       Plant-based protein absorbs less phosphorus than animal protein. Phosphorus is a mineral that is important to body chemistry in such areas as nerve signaling, heart function, kidney function, and others. This makes plant-based protein suitable for those with high phosphorus concentrations in their blood. The normal threshold for phosphorus is 2.4-5.1 mg/dL. Those with hyper-phosphorus have a blood phosphorus level of at least 5 mg/dL.

·       Plant-based protein contains protein but no cholesterol. Some animal proteins are high in cholesterol.

·       Plant-based protein is high in fiber while animal protein does not contain fiber.

·       Plant-based protein reduces the risk of heart disease while animal protein increases the risk of heart disease.

·       Plant-based protein reduces the risk of colon cancer while animal protein, especially from red meats, increases the risk of colon cancer.

5 benefits of plant-based protein

These are just some of the many benefits of plant-based protein that make more and more people turn to this type of protein:

1.        Plant-based protein is rich in vitamins and minerals.

2.        Plant-based protein nourishes the heart. It's good for heart patients because its cholesterol-free and has fiber that helps reduce bad cholesterol levels in the blood.

3.        Plant-based protein reduces fat and aids weight loss because it provides low energy thereby averting the risk of excess energy. Moreover, fiber helps reduce fat accumulation in the body which causes weight gain.

4.        Plant-based protein helps enhance longevity. One study in which the subjects increased the proportion of plant-based and plant-protein foods in their diet found that they had lower mortality rates.

5.        Plant-based protein helps reduce global warming. Although it does not directly affect the environment, many plant-based food industries emit less greenhouse gases than the meat industry. Therefore, it can help mitigate the damage the livestock industry does to the climate and the environment.

Caution when consuming plant-based protein

Certain plant-based protein sources such as cassava, spinach, betel leaves and others have high potassium content. As such, kidney disease patients should consult their doctor before working this type of protein into their diet and should read the product labels carefully. For normal healthy people, eating only plant-based protein can pose risks, including becoming deficient in several essential amino acids found only in meat. Also, vitamin B12 is only found in very low amounts in plants.

Have your doctor assess your suitability for switching to plant-based protein sources as this will keep you safe from adverse effects of inappropriate consumption that could prove fatal.

Krungthai-AXA Life Insurance customers interested in healthcare topics can check out other articles at: https://www.krungthai-axa.co.th/th/health-advisories.

References

·       King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, the Thai Red Cross Society
https://bit.ly/3XYP2gy

·       Interpharma Group
https://bit.ly/3gTXbSM
https://bit.ly/3B2cBLk

·       Pobpad website
https://bit.ly/3OQKLHD

·       MedThai
https://bit.ly/3VJvrOQ

·       Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University
https://bit.ly/3vC3HBi