You’re likely no stranger to the diet “fads” sweeping the nation. Whether it is low-carb this, no fat that, or the age-old debate of what’s better: animal protein or plant protein – there’s always an opinion about everything we eat. So, this blog is designed to set the record straight on some little-known facts about plant-based proteins. You don’t have to take it from us, after you see the host of health benefits plant-based protein can provide, you can be the judge.

Animal meat offers a host of essential amino acids that our bodies need. Hence why they often refer to animal-based protein as a “complete protein”. However, what they don’t tell you is, complete proteins are often harder for the body to digest. They require more energy that our body needs, leaving a lot of those essential nutrients never absorbed into our body’s cells.

Whereas, on the other hand, plant-based proteins are easily digestible, getting your body the nutrients it needs right away – with minimal energy investment. Here are the top three plant-based myths and the facts to dispel them.

1. You can never have too much protein. This is simply not true. If you consider milk, for example. It is naturally made by the mother to provide nourishment (mainly fat) for the growing infant. Even milk is just 5% protein, so that goes to show you that nature doesn’t deem it to be needed in large quantities for our growth and development. When you over consume animal protein, you put a major strain on the body, especially your liver to try to digest and get rid of the nasty byproducts like uric acid. In most developed countries, the issue is never that you don’t get enough protein, it usually is you’re getting too much, and the wrong kind!

2. Animal protein is the best source of protein. As we mentioned above, animal protein is indeed a “complete protein”, but your body has to work that much harder to break it down. In order for your body to get the most use out of the protein we consume, it must be able to quickly digest it. However, animal-based proteins take longer to digest and “force” the body to work much harder than it should. Instead, plants like spinach are rich in protein and its plant-based protein can easily be digested.

3. Protein remains after cooking. Without going into a detailed chemistry lesson, proteins are known to denature or fall apart when exposed to high temperature. When this happens, the protein is no longer useful and can then be broken down into its amino acids. This “melting” process that proteins go through also applies to our foods. Though meats may have complete proteins, these proteins are often so degraded by the cooking process that they are no longer beneficial to us when we consume cooked meat. It is estimated that nearly 50% of the protein value of meat is lost through the cooking process. Begging the question, “is eating meat really the way to getting your protein?” This is why eating plants that are high in protein, or substituting animal-based protein with plant-based protein as much as possible can be the key to improving your health outcomes.

So, you decide how you want your protein packaged. If you’re ever looking for a non-meat protein alternative that is delicious and easy-to-prepare, then check out our full suite of Bean Pastas right here.