Animal Vs Plant Proteins-Both Are Necessary!

 ANIMAL AND PLANT PROTEINS-DIFFERENCE AND APPLICATIONS

The main difference between plant and animal proteins is its amino acid content. Animal proteins like meat, fish, eggs and dairy are similar to our body protein hence it absorbs easily and faster and thus regarded as first class protein. Plant proteins are generally deficient in one or more essential amino acid and hence considered as second class proteins or incomplete proteins. But mixing two plant proteins into single food preparations makes it a complete protein as for an example: Grains are deficient in lysine and pulses are deficient in methionine essential amino acid but mixing grains with pulses preparations like idly, dosha, dhokla, khichri makes it a complete protein. Though animal proteins are the complete protein due to its high sulphur content it is highly acidic and sometimes adversely affects health.

Benefits of including Animal Protein in our Diet:  

• Provides lots of energy and protein
• Contains iron which helps in haemoglobin formation which in turn helps in transportation of oxygen to different body parts.
• Zinc found in meats helps in tissue formation and metabolism
• Selenium from meat protein breaks the body fat and other chemicals and helps metabolism.
• Vit-A found in meat helps in good vision
• Vit-D good source is meat protein which makes our teeth and bones stronger
• Vit-B in meats supports central nervous system by promoting good mental health.

Benefits of including Plant Protein in our Diet:

• Decreases the risk of cancer
• Maintains our cholesterol level to normal range
• Lowers the chance of heart diseases
• Maintains blood pressure to normal range
• Controls blood sugar level
• Helps in weight reduction
• Lowers the risk of allergy
• Decreases the risk of Crohn’s disease
• Helpful for Parkinson’s patients

Acceptance and Restrictions of Animal and Plant Proteins:

Sometimes it is very difficult for vegetarians to accept non-vegetarian food. It may be due to individual choice, family restrictions, some culture, traditions or ethical issues or may be due to allergies. Choice of vegan and non-vegan protein depends on the individual acceptance of protein sources.

Ovolactovegetarian: Taking eggs and dairy products but no meat, fish and poultry

Lactovegetarian: Only dairy products no eggs, meats, fish or poultry

Ovo vegetarian: only taking eggs but not dairy products, fish, meat, poultry

Strict vegetarian: No eggs, dairy, meat, fish and poultry i.e no animal protein

Proteins from milk, eggs, meat, fish and poultry are good biological value protein than cereals and pulses but we can increase the biological values of plant proteins by combining two or more plant proteins  into one dish.

Animal protein is more helpful in conditions like pregnancy, lactation, kwashiorkor, fatty liver, nephrotic syndrome, trauma  and for burn patients while plant proteins are preferred in renal and liver failure patients as animal protein puts more load for the organs like liver and kidney to metabolise protein.

Limitations of Animal protein:

• Weight Gain: Regular intake of excess animal protein causes weight gain as our body stores extra protein as fat
• Raises Cholesterol: Taking extra amounts of meats and dairy products means excess saturated and trans fats which increase our cholesterol level
• Kidney Stones: Excess animal protein may speed up calcium and oxalate excretion from our body which enhances the risk of kidney stones
• Gout: Large intake of meats and fish increases uric acid level in our blood and thus resulting, arthritis i.e . inflammation of joint with pain

Limitations of Plant Protein:

• Iron Deficiency: Plant proteins are iron deficient causing anaemia leading to fatigue, dizziness, headaches, pale skin and lack of concentration
• Lack of Satiety: Plant protein is unable to fulfil our satiety.
• Zinc Deficiency: Meat protein is the fair source of zinc and zinc deficiency causes unhealthy immune system and slow in tissue repairs.
• Lack of Cholesterol: Plant protein is Cholesterol deficient which is needed for sex hormone synthesis, vit –D production.

End note: It is best to include both plant and animal proteins in our diet. Animal proteins are rich in Vit-B, D, DHA, Heme iron and Zinc. Also, some proteins are found in the plant but are lacking in animals. Animal protein like processed meats, red meats causes many heart diseases; stroke while animal proteins like fish reduce the chance of heart attacks, strokes. Vegetarians should choose a Nvariety of foods to get required amino acids. Sometimes we have to replace plant proteins with animal proteins and animal proteins with plant proteins according to our body’s biological conditions and requirements.