Welcome to the Ask a Nutritionist Podcast, brought to you by Nutritional Weight and Wellness.

We are thrilled to have you join us today as we discuss the connection between what you eat and how you feel,

and share practical real-life solutions for healthier living through balanced nutrition.

Now let's get started.

Good morning and welcome to Dishing Up Nutrition's midweek

segment called Ask a Nutritionist. My name is Brandy Burrow and I'm a licensed and registered

dietitian with nutritional weight and wellness. On today's show, I'll be answering a

nutrition question we received from our Dishing Up Nutrition listeners. So the question today is, can you talk more about why you recommend animal-based proteins

or why it is best as opposed to eating protein from beans, tofu, tempe, and things like that?

Well, I want to start off by explaining that animal-based proteins like eggs and fish and beef and chicken,

they are what we consider a complete protein.

This means that they contain all nine essential amino acids that our bodies need in about the right balance

our bodies need to build muscle, build bones, maintain our organs, build brain chemicals,

and the list goes on. So those nine essential amino acids mean that our body can't make them.

They're essential because we have to get them from food.

And not all foods are a good source of those essential amino acids.

Plant-based proteins like beans, grains, nuts and seeds, they do not contain all of those essential amino acids.

Some plants contain some essential amino acids, but they always lack one or more.

And they don't contain a high concentration of amino acids.

And they don't really contain the amounts that we need to maintain healthy muscles,

healthy bones, at least in the amounts that we typically eat.

So the amino acid content will be different based on the plant.

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