It’s hard to knock a plant-based diet… provided it’s based on fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts, instead of chips and cookies. Plant-based diets are associated with better cardiovascular and metabolic health due to a general ability to fight inflammation.
But these nutrient-dense diets generally have one glaring hole: they can be very low in high-quality protein sources. Protein is required to build and maintain muscle and other tissue, as well as provide a host of other functions.
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Plant-sources, however, are typically low in protein, feature “incomplete” proteins, and are generally not well absorbed, meaning you lose a lot during digestion. Outside of quinoa, virtually all plant proteins are lower quality compared to the “complete” and easily digestible protein found in meat.
New research, however, is showing that a popular dietary staple may offer have a surprising benefit to protein synthesis, helping to build and maintain muscle mass.
Potatoes are known as a starchy side dish. But they also contain a small amount of high-quality protein, that, according to new research published in Nutrients, provides “measurable benefits” for muscle mass, according to study author Sara Oikawa.
Eating potatoes all day every day, however, won’t be enough. There is only a small amount of protein in potato, and the study reached its result using protein extract taken by young women. In simple terms, they were given a potato-based protein supplement.
Potato-based protein supplements may be a valuable asset for people on a plant-based diet. You can get them from various protein manufactures and sellers and is worth considering.
Highly bioavailable protein is essential for hitting daily targets to build strength, maintaining muscle, and more. With a diet that’s already likely low in high-quality protein, this could be a major development for people who are trying to eat less meat or practicing a plant-based diet.
Devon Andre has been involved in the health and dietary supplement industry for a number of years. Devon has written extensively for Bel Marra Health. He has a Bachelor of Forensic Science from the University of Windsor, and went on to complete a Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh. Devon is keenly aware of trends and new developments in the area of health and wellness. He embraces an active lifestyle combining diet, exercise and healthy choices. By working to inform readers of the options available to them, he hopes to improve their health and quality of life.
