Is soy protein a high-quality protein?
Abstract: Many people around me deny that soy protein is high-quality protein, and the reason given is that it is vegetable protein, and plant protein is not high-quality protein. High-quality protein. Here we do not talk about digestion and absorption. But I don’t think it’s reasonable to deny that soy protein is a high-quality protein just because it’s a vegetable protein.
Keywords: vegetable protein, soy protein, protein, nutrition, amino acid
Recently, the doctor suggested that we should drink more milk, eat more eggs, and drink less porridge during this special period, which caused a lot of controversy. I found that many people do not understand the essence of eggs, milk and porridge. The essence of porridge Carbohydrates, that is, sugar, are the most direct source of energy for the human body. Milk and eggs are the representatives of protein foods, which can enhance human immunity. But in our country, another protein-rich food, soy, there has always been a lot of controversy about whether soy protein is high-quality protein, and it seems like it could spark a world-class debate.
Many people around me deny that soy protein is high-quality protein, and the reason given is that it is vegetable protein, and plant protein is not high-quality protein. High-quality protein. Here we do not talk about digestion and absorption. But I don’t think it’s reasonable to deny that soy protein is a high-quality protein just because it’s a vegetable protein.
First, after protein enters the body, it is decomposed into amino acids by protease in the stomach and small intestine, and then absorbed by the body. There are more than 20 kinds of amino acids that make up the human body, most of which can be synthesized in the body, but 8 of them cannot be synthesized by the human body and must be provided by food, so they are also called “essential amino acids”. These 8 essential amino acids are: Tryptophan, Threonine, Methionine, Valine, Lysine, Leucine, Isoleucine and Phenylalanine.
Secondly, from the perspective of nutrition, high-quality protein needs to meet three conditions, complete types of essential amino acids, appropriate proportions, and sufficient quantities. The amino acid composition of soybean protein is similar to that of milk. Except for the slightly lower content of methionine, the content of other essential amino acids is very rich, and the structure is also very close to human amino acids, so it is the most nutritious vegetable protein.
Moreover, the Chinese Nutrition Society clearly pointed out in the dietary guidance that high-quality protein includes soybeans and their products in addition to animal proteins such as meat, eggs, milk, fish and shrimp. The “Dietary Guidelines for Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease” (wsT557-2017) issued by the National Health and Family Planning Commission also pointed out that an appropriate amount of meat, eggs, milk, soybean protein and other high-quality protein foods should be used as the main source of protein, so soybean protein is also high-quality protein. , but it’s a plant-based protein.
Normal people eat normally and don’t have to worry about the burden on the kidneys, digestion and absorption. If there are kidney problems or gout patients, they can adjust their diet under the guidance of a doctor.
Compared with soy beans, soy products, such as soy milk, tofu, bean skin, bean sprouts, or some soy protein isolate products, are better for digestion and absorption.