The debate is old and likely to be unending. Which is better? Which is more effective, more complete? The meat lovers and the veggie supporters!
Let us learn the pros and cons. It is important to understand that the protein in our diet comes in a package. The contents of this package are as important as the contents of the protein, which are the amino acids that make the protein.
The value of a protein is related to the presence of the nine essential amino acids that our body cannot synthesise.
The non veg protein /milk and dairy based source :
The content of this protein is excellent. They are complete proteins as they have all the nine essential amino acids.
How well the content is made available to your body for absorption and use, is directly related how well the protein is digested. They have high digestibility scores too!
So where is the hurdle?
The contents of this protein package are a mixed bag. While they rich in heme iron and vitamin B12, which is good, they also have high saturated fat and cholesterol content and are low in fibre!
The plant based protein :
Based on the content, they are incomplete proteins. They are deficient in one or more of the essential amino acids. So a single source cannot satisfy our body needs. This can be overcome by combining sources e.g.. cereals and pulses.
pulses and cereals which are the main protein sources are poorly digested. Soaking, germination, pressure cooking can help to correct this to some extent.
The contents of the package are very attractive, with a low fat content, high fibre content and higher micronutrient content. They also are rich in phytonutrients and anti oxidants.
Though there are no specific guidelines as to the ideal ratio of plant and animal based proteins in the diet, dietary guidelines are suggesting higher proportion of plant based diets.