Plant Protein Could Be Healthier For You

We all need protein to ensure we have a balanced, healthy diet, but what type of protein is really best? There are a lot of different foods that are rich in protein, including dairy, fish, meat and plants, but it seems that some of these may be better than others.

A new study has suggested that swapping protein that comes from animals – meat, dairy and fish – for plant-based proteins could mean you live longer.

In the biggest study to ever look at the effects of different types of protein, researchers from Italy and the US explored data covering diet and health outcomes for over 130,000 health professionals.

They found that higher levels of animal protein intake were linked to illnesses like heart disease. In comparison, plant protein meant people had a lower risk of death.

However, the shorter lifespan linked to animal protein was only experienced by those who already had an unhealthy lifestyle factor – including heavy drinking, smoking or not engaging in much physical activity.

Dr Mingyang Song, research fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital – one of the hospitals involved in the study – said: “Overall, our findings support the importance of the sources of dietary protein for long-term health outcomes.

While previous studies have primarily focused on the overall amount of protein intake — which is important — from a broad dietary perspective, the particular foods that people consume to get protein are equally important.”

He went on to suggest that the study’s findings could help to influence recommendations about eating protein, as it seems the source of the protein is just as important as how much you eat.

If you want to try varying the types of protein you eat, things like lentils and nuts are healthy sources that can be cooked in a variety of ways.

Whatever type of protein you choose to eat, you should ensure it is low fat and part of a healthy diet that also includes all the other food groups you need.