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Study: Your cells prefer animal protein


Picture this: It's 2050 and you're walking down the Whole Foods meat aisle and majority of products are not made from animal protein. The ingredients list is as long as a terms & conditions contract that you will never read (Look, I'm not a lawyer), and all you came for was a steak. The claims written on the front of the product reads, "high protein, low-fat, low cholesterol and it's better for you". But is it?


Even in 2022, consumers can purchase almost any type of alternative meat product, from hot dogs to fish, but don't get me wrong, we've definitely come a long way from tofurkey and plain veggie burgers. Nowadays, you can buy a burger from Burger King that's 100% meatless, yet mimics the look, texture and smell of the real thing, but you're slightly unsure if it's solely "good-for-you" plants that you're eating. To make plant-based meat, plants and other ingredients (fillers, colors, preservatives, etc.) are dehydrated into a powder, mixed with seasonings, heated, moistened and then processed through an extruder.



Other than for religious or ethical reasons, what makes the plant-based change so attractive to many is the misconception that the plants used to make these products are higher in protein and lower in fat. Unfortunately, this claim may have been disproven in a recent study done by researchers at Ohio State University. Osvaldo and colleagues found in their research that the proteins in meat alternatives actually don't break down into peptides as well as those from real animal protein. In fact, they also found that human cells did not absorb the peptides from the meat alternative as well as animal proteins.


What is a peptide?

A peptide is a short chain made up of two or more amino acids. The amino acids are linked by a chemical bond called a peptide bond. When organized in complex structures (typically consisting of 50 or more amino acids), peptides then become proteins.

With all scientific research, it's important to note that more research always needs to be done to make conclusions or causations. However, this study outlined the need for better, less processed meat alternatives that are more readily absorbable in human cells, so we can uptake more of the protein just like our cells do when eating animal proteins. In the meantime, if you enjoy that Impossible Burger every once in a while, great! Like always, unprocessed plant-based proteins such as legumes, tofu, nuts/seeds and grains are nourishing, and don't require you to read a laundry list of ingredients.




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Hi, thanks for stopping by!

Ever since I can remember, I was fascinated by how much our quality of life is affected by the foods we eat. My B.S. in Food Science and Nutrition with a dietetics specialization and M.S. in Nutrition has equipped me with extensive, evidence-backed knowledge in metabolism, weight management and overall prevention of chronic disease

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