Meat protein ‘best’ in blow to veganism

PROTEIN from meat is better quality and keeps you leaner and feeling fuller than plant protein, a study shows.

Researchers found eating animal-based protein resulted in greater gain of protein in the body than the ounce equivalents of plant-based sources.

They asked 56 young healthy adults to eat either 2oz of cooked beef sirloin, 2oz of cooked pork loin, two cooked eggs, half a cup of red kidney beans, two tablespoons of peanut butter, 4oz of tofu or 1oz of mixed nuts.

Whole body “protein balance” increased more in the beef, pork and eggs groups than all of the groups consuming plantbased sources.

Professor Robert Wolfe, at the University of Arkansas, said: “Eating animal protein foods such as beef, pork and eggs, may lead to increased protein synthesis, which has been shown to have benefits such as improved satiety and lean muscle mass maintenance.” The study is in the Journal of Nutrition.