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"Plant" protein - is it "good" for us?


So what exactly is this "plant protein" everyone's talking about???


Well . . . it's exactly what it sounds like . . . "protein" that comes from a plant.


As we know . . . "proteins" are considered "essential" nutrients and classified as "macronutrients" , . . with "fats" and "carbohydrates" also being macronutrients for optimal health.


And these "plant proteins" include pulses (which are chickpeas, lentils, bean like black, kidney and adzuki beans) and split peas, tofu, soya, tempeh, seitan, nuts, seeds and certain grains.


Now . . . a diet high in "plant" protein such as the vegetarian or vegan diet . . . have been linked to many health benefits such as lower body weight, lower cholesterol and lower blood pressure levels. They also have a lower risk of stroke, cancer and death from heart disease.


So now you ask . . . what's the difference between "animal" and "plant" proteins???


Well . . . in terms of components . . . there's no difference. They are both made up of amino acids . . . but . . . "meat" is more likely to contain "all" the "essential" amino acids.


You see . . . the problem with a strictly "plant" based diet . . . is that the body "can" produce "non-essential" amino acids . . . BUT . . . it "can't" produce "essential" amino acids which we need for optimal health and we get from our diet. These elements are not available in this type of diet, which can lead to many health issues. Meaning, we don't get these "essential" amino acid from "plant" proteins.


One other element that we need to talk about . . . are the "protein powers" that we find everywhere in today's dieting world. The problem is this . . .


When consuming "plant protein powders" on a daily basics . . . it may harm the kidneys. The kidneys are instrumental in helping the body remove waste created during "protein synthesis".


But . . . due to the excess amount of prot