How do animal proteins differ from vegetable proteins?

Answer 1

One kind comes from animals, the other kind comes from plants. Other than that, there is no difference.

You don't have to eat meat to get enough protein.

Answer 2

Well, everyone else pretty much hit the nail on the head. There’s no real difference, other than the animals you eat have already produced the proteins in their bodies from the vegetables and grains they’ve eaten; you’re just letting them do that work for you.

In order to complete the protein in your own vegetable diet you would need to eat a healthy variety of foods. This is actually very easy considering most of these foods form a complete meal when combined in a logical sense – rice & beans for instance.

The other big difference that people haven’t touched upon yet in the “baggage” that comes along with the proteins. All animals proteins are gift wrapped in a cholesterol package. Outside of eggs or dairy, there are no vegetable proteins that have any cholesterol in them. The amounts of sodium and calories can also vary greatly between meats and vegetables with meats usually having the higher of the two.

Answer 3

First off, proteins are polymers of amino acids. There are nine essential amino acids (cannot be made by the body and must be in the diet). Animal proteins are complete, meaning they contain all nine. If you look at specific plant proteins, they are incomplete, but other plant proteins make up for it. For example, rice and beans together contain all nine essential amino acids. You just have to combine them in a reasonable time span (1-2 days). In general, the legume family and the grain family complement each other completely. Furthermore, even among animal proteins, some are better than others (eggs are superior to red meat).

It is a myth that our body needs 'animal proteins'. We make our OWN proteins, and these are the same whether you get the amino acids from plants or animals. All proteins, whether plant or animal, HAVE to be broken down into individual amino acids in our stomach. Your body doesn't care whether it makes proteins from rice and beans or from bacon and eggs.

Answer 4

First of all-- There is a difference in quantity. A vegetarian diet doesn't include as much protein as a non-vegetarian one. That is true. But what you might not know is that the average American eats way too much protein, about 2x what they need. The average vegetarian might eat less protein than the average omnivore, but they still eat more than enough to fulfill their body's needs. I have heard nutritional experts say that it's pretty much impossible to have a protein deficiency in a developed country if you are eating enough calories and don't have a condition that blocks protein absorption. That's because all foods contain at least some protein in them, even vegetarian food. Lower protein intake might even yield benefits such as higher calcium absorption.

That being said, some people in underdeveloped countries do get protein deficiencies, since they might only have access to substandard or not enough food. It's called Kwashiorkor, but it is pretty much unheard of in the USA.

Ok, so quantity isn't an issue, but some people claim that the protein in meat is "better" or more "complete" than the proteins in plants foods. In a way they are right, but it's misleading to put it that way because, unless you only ever eat one kind of food, plants proteins are still quite sufficient. Let me explain.

There are 12 essential acids (protein) that we need to eat to be healthy. Tryptophan, Threonine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine+Cystine, Phenylalanine+Tyrosine, Valine, and Histidine. Meat protein is considered "better" because it contains all of these in high amounts.

Some plant foods also contain all of the amino acids... quinoa and soy for example. But most plants foods are high in some and lacking in others. Bread, for example, is low in Lysine. Zucchini is low in Threonine.

But since you (hopefully!) eat a variety of foods, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, overall you will have enough of each kind of protein. This is called protein complimenting. You don't even have to eat the complimentary foods in the same meal or really consciously worry about it at all. Again, as long as you are eating the right amount of a variety of foods...

You don't have to worry.

Answer 5

Yes, it contains fat, lots of fat, where as vegetable protein does not.

Answer 6

Animal proteins are *complete* proteins.

Vegetable proteins do not contain all essential amino acids needed for proper nutrition.