What Is Vegan Protein, and Does It Have the Same Effect?
Among athletes, fitness professionals, and even bodybuilders, vegans are not uncommon. Today it is easier for them to achieve results and set goals. The lack of proteins in their diet, due to the partial or complete rejection of food of animal origin, is easily replenished with preparations of sports food with plant proteins. These supplements are also irreplaceable for people with intolerances or allergies to foods with one or another protein. The following article by The Protein Works is going to describe what plant protein is, which supplements are most popular among athletes, and which plant protein is best.
What are the benefits of plant-based protein?
Although plant proteins are inferior to animal polypeptides in terms of nutritional value and some other characteristics, diets high in plant protein are more beneficial for health and physical function. Benefits of consuming vegetable protein compared to animal proteins:
A decrease in markers of cardiovascular disease – a decrease in the level of low-density cholesterol, apolipoprotein, fatty acids, and triglycerides. Simplifying body weight control, maintaining metabolic health, preventing the development of type 2 diabetes. Reducing the risk of developing certain types of cancer, for example, collateral oncology.
In addition, some plants, as well as foods and supplements made from them, contain carotenoids and flavonoids that are beneficial to the body, and health, and which are not found in animal products.
What are the types of vegan protein?
Such kind of protein is made from different plants. The best sources are legumes, pseudo-grains, grains, nuts, and seeds.
Soy protein. Soy protein, along with milk, egg, and meat proteins, are considered complete proteins that fully cover a person’s need for growth and development. Their digestibility rate is approximately the same.
Pea protein. Peas are not yet included in the list of allergens, they practically do not contain plant estrogens, they are absorbed more slowly than whey protein, but faster than casein. At the same time, it is the absolute record holder for arginine content among all proteins – 8.7% per gram. It is also high in lysine, glutamine, and about 18% BCAAs. Therefore, pea protein is one of the most popular sports nutrition proteins for vegans involved in bodybuilding or powerlifting.
Brown rice protein. In addition to a fairly complete amino acid composition of protein, rice protein also contains fiber, carbohydrates, vitamins, phosphorus, and zinc. Since rice protein lacks lysine, its deficiency is compensated by a combination of rice isolate with pea protein. It is recommended to take it to maintain physical performance, lose fat and prevent muscle loss.
Oat protein. The amino acid composition of oat protein is close to ideal. It only lacks lysine. But it’s easy to fix by combining oat protein with pea protein. Such a mix is approved by WHO for sports and baby food, products for the elderly, diabetics, and people in need of appetite control and weight loss.
Remember if you constantly use sports nutrition preparations containing vegetable protein you should be scrupulous about the choice of the brand. Counterfeiting or poor-quality purification of vegetable protein can become an obstacle to achieving the desired goal, not giving the effect and be harmful to health. Be on the safe side and choose protein from The Protein Works website. All products are certified and have the highest quality.
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