Health: Animal vs. Plant-Based Protein | Which Is Better for Weight Management?
Health recently interviewed Amanda Velazquez, MD, director of Obesity Medicine in the Department of Surgery at Cedars-Sinai, about why protein is an important part of a healthy diet and which protein sources are the healthiest.
Velazquez told Health that plant-based protein found in foods like nuts, lentils, beans and whole grains appears to be better for the body than animal protein—especially for people managing their weight.
“The data has started to demonstrate more and more that plant protein is equally efficacious in terms of providing the nourishment needed for the human body,” Velazquez said. “With plant-based protein, there’s more benefits as a whole compared to animal protein.”
Velazquez told Health that if people are trying to lose weight, getting enough protein can help them feel fuller longer, in addition to being good for overall health.
“Inadvertently, an individual is going to lose some degree of muscle mass when they’re losing weight in combination with fat mass,” Velazquez said. “So, in order to preserve that muscle mass, it’s critical for one to be taking in adequate amounts of protein for their body.”
She added that plant protein has more fiber, which also is beneficial for people trying to lose weight.
Velazquez told Health that while plant-based protein may be healthier, lean animal protein, such as seafood, chicken and turkey, also are good options.
“The important thing to know is that quality matters,” she said.
Experts recommend that adults consume about 0.8 grams of protein every day for every kilogram of body weight.
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