Our bodies use proteins by breaking them into individual units called amino acids, and then putting them back together into a variety of body proteins that are needed for specific cellular functions. When we have enough food protein to make all the body proteins the cells need, the rest is excess or essentially waste. When people eat more protein than they need, they will convert the excess amino acids to energy. The preferred fuels for the active body are carbohydrate and fat. Therefore, consuming excess protein is not an efficient way to energize the body, and regular high protein intakes increase the risk of chronic disease.
Plant protein is just as effectively used to build muscle protein as is animal protein.
When you do this, you provide your body with a wide array of essential amino acids to choose from when building muscle and other body cells. As stated earlier, some plant foods are quite rich in protein. The following table compares percent of calories as protein in various foods, and you can see that, in several cases, plant proteins have a higher percentage of their calories as protein than do some animal products. Exercise and plant-based eating are the perfect partners for a healthy, active life. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.