Is plant protein easily digestible?

Plant-based protein is enjoying steadily growing popularity among physically active people and others. It is increasingly being incorporated into lifestyles due to its greater environmental protection and very similar nutritional values to regular animal protein. But what about its absorbability?

1. Plant protein vs animal protein
2. Plant protein digestibility
3. Plant protein and its digestibility – summary

Plant protein vs animal protein

Supporters of one type of protein and the other shout over each other in arguments confirming their theses regarding the effectiveness of specific types of protein. Undoubtedly, both sides are somewhat right, but this issue must be viewed objectively. Plant protein has a fairly rich amino acid profile, although it differs slightly from the standard represented by animal protein, but it has a richer nutritional composition than its counterpart.

There is also a tendency for animal proteins to cause higher insulin signalling and anabolic response. This may have a beneficial effect on body shaping. However, it is worth noting the rich nutritional composition of plant-based proteins. They contain a wide range of vitamins and minerals that may be lacking in animal proteins, which can be important for people who want to take care of their health and support daily prevention.

Plant protein digestibility

Aggregate data on the digestibility of plant-based protein clearly show that this type of protein is digested at a rate of approximately 80%. Animal protein, on the other hand, has a digestibility rate of approximately 95%.

It is therefore clear that the absorption profile of plant protein is slightly worse than that of animal protein, but it makes up for its shortcomings with a very rich nutritional composition, which will undoubtedly find practical application in the daily diet of people who want to take care of their diet and supplementation.

Plant protein and its digestibility – summary

Plant-based proteins have a slightly weaker amino acid profile than animal proteins. This may result in longer recovery times for individual tissue structures (made up of proteins) or slower muscle growth in people who do strength training.

However, many vegan or vegetarian bodybuilders effectively break this pattern, proving that it is possible to build muscle with the help of plant protein. The process of building muscle may simply require a higher intake of plant proteins, which, due to their nutritional richness, will have a great impact on the health of the body and its prevention. The optimal way to compensate for this imbalance seems to be to use multi-component plant protein blends and consume them at a level about 20% higher than in the case of animal proteins.