Despite the fact that you take a diet rich in animal protein, the many benefits of plant protein can’t be overlooked. Beans, peas, nuts and legumes are nature’s bounty full of health and goodness. They are a wonderful source of plant protein which helps you stay fit and active. A diet which is based on plant protein can result in a healthy heart and strong immune system.
Adults need somewhere around 45 to 55 grams of protein per day. A person who eats a diet rich in animal protein can easily get this amount. However those who are solely vegans might need to take a mixture of plant proteins to get the required amount in their diet.
The following are some of the benefits of plant proteins.
Legumes help fight cancer
Legumes contain plant proteins. It has several health promoting substances like saponins which are great for the immune system and over all body health. These saponins are present in all kinds of legumes for example black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans and peanuts. These help lower the blood pressure, boost immunity and help fight cancer. There are quite a few benefits of these substances like reducing the amount of lipids in a diet to being able to treat lead poisoning as well.
Soybeans help fight cancer
Soybeans can completely replace animal proteins. People who want to follow a low calories plat based diet often revert to soy products. This is because soybeans are low calories yet contain all the essential components of a protein rich diet. They contain absolutely no cholesterol and very little saturated fat. Replacing animal proteins with tofu and soy milk can help reduce cholesterol and lower the triglycerides in the body. Soybeans can also aid weight loss and reduce the blood sugar in diabetics.
Nuts help reduce the risk for heart disease
Nuts like cashew, pistachio, almonds and macadamia nuts are rich in plant proteins. They are also rich in fibre, minerals and bioactive compounds. Research has proved that these help lower the risk of heart disease, high cholesterol and gallstones. Nuts can also fight inflammation and reduces stress induced diseases like anxiety and depression. Nuts are high in minerals like magnesium, potassium and calcium.
The benefits of Lectins found in plant protein
When test tube and human case studies of the effect of Lectin found in plant proteins was carried out, it was discovered that these had excellent cancer fighting abilities. Lectin is found in abundance in kidney beans, legumes, soybeans, peas, banana, tomatoes and other plant based foods. These substances are internalised into the cells and help block cancerous growths. These also help modulate the immune system by providing it with the essential nutrients.
The misconception is that plant proteins are not complete proteins. This isn’t exactly the case. Plants actually possess different varieties of proteins. Therefore by eating a plant rich diet which is varied, a person can get all the essential proteins. Plus the fibre in plants also helps one stay full for longer. So why wait. Make sure to introduce healthy plants based proteins into your diet.
