Protein Types

There's a lot of info regarding plant protein vs animal protein being the best. Which do you do the most? My NUT nor my doctor never stated one vs the other, but just thought it's interesting lately with all the media hype about not eating animal protein. What's your thoughts?

BYW.... I don't post much, but I love reading everything and feel so connected! Thank you all :)

You have to define - Best. They have a scientific measuring scale for measuring the absorbability of protein.

It's called PDCAAS

Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score

0.0 is lowest - meaning low quality. That would be collagen

1.0 is highest- that would be whey protein isolate. Casein also has a score of 1.0 but has less BCAAs and is absorbed slower.

Pea protein is .89 on the scale

Rice Protein is .43 on the scale

So all these people taking collagen as a protein source is crap. It may have other benefits- skin-nails etc. but not protein. That's why even though Pork rinds list protein in the nutritionals the front of the bag I buy says - Not a good source of protein. Because it's mostly collagen.

Early on Whey protein isolate is important because you eat so little you need to absorb every bit. At 4 years out I still choose whey but if it's a mix of concentrate or casein I am not as concerned because I eat plenty of real food.

This data was from Bariatric Advantage. But you can Google the scale it's not made up by them.

Great explanation, thank you.

Are you talking non-protein shake sources?? (This was in response to the OP and not NYMom)

In addition to other responses above:

There are 20 or 21 different kinds if amino acids that make up a protein. Animal proteins, including meat, eggs, etc, are all complete proteins. That is, they contain all of tgge amino acids the human body needs.

Plant proteins are all incomplete proteins. They lack one or more amino acids that are essential for our bodies. You would need to make up that deficit somehow if all you were eating was a plant protein.

Good information, Grim. I might add, if I may, for those folks sincerely interested in plant based proteins that if you do your research, it is possible to combine incomplete protein sources to get a complete protein outcome (complimentary proteins). An example of this would be to eat rice and beans together. However....

Two important points to make are: 1. These combinations must be consumed together (at the same mealtime - or some sources say w/in 24 hours of each other), and 2. Obviously, if one is concerned with keeping carbohydrate and calorie numbers down (see example above) the following should be kept in mind---

1/2 cup + 1/2 cup of rice and beans combined = 22 g. of complete protein (good), 200 calories, 18 g. fiber, and (a whopping) 40 g carbohydrate. (However, the carbs are more slow acting than simple carbs, and have less impact on blood sugar reactions....)

Plant based proteins are doable--but DO do your research. Our tummies are smaller- calorie and (for many of us, carbohydrate) needs are much less desired in WLmode.

(source- Diet for a Small Planet) there are many websites to get examples of complementary plant proteins--just---Google up.

Excellent info here. Just wanted to add that when it comes to protein powder, pea and brown rice combines to make a complete protein with all amino acids. You can buy vegan protein powders that mix the two.

Collagen or "beef protein isolate" is an incomplete protein on it's own, but it can be mixed with another complete protein source, like whey or egg white. Then it will be absorbed and digested as a complete protein. No real reason to do that though, unless you want the collagen supplementation, or like me you ran out and bought collagen and beef protein isolate before doing your research

I always take media hype with a huge grain of salt. I think it's better to do your own reading on the subject, from all sides and various sources, and come to your own conclusion as to what you think is right for you.

I'm a wls newbie, but I know my body and I feel I do better with good quality, organic as possible, animal proteins. Soy has always made me feel puffy and bloated, and I avoid it. I'd be fine drinking pea & rice protein powder, but as a wls patient eating peas and rice isn't a good idea.