Recent research reveals that plants have all essential amino acids, debunking a longstanding misconception.
A New England Journal of Medicine letter to the editor by Neal D. Barnard, MD, published on August 1, 2024, highlights the significant health benefits of plant-based proteins over animal-based ones. Contrary to the widespread misconception, Dr. Barnard’s findings reveal that plants provide all essential amino acids—the fundamental components of proteins. Of these, nine are essential, meaning the human body cannot synthesize them on its own; however, they are all present in plant sources.
“In addition, plant-based proteins are associated with reduced mortality compared with animal proteins,” says Dr. Barnard, president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a nonprofit public health advocacy organization, and adjunct professor of medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C. “A major Harvard study showed that when plant-based proteins are consumed instead of protein from beef, poultry, fish, dairy products, or eggs, mortality is reduced.”
Nutritional Considerations in Plant-Based Eating
People drawing their nutrition from plant-based diets enjoy a reduced risk of diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and cancer. Even so, people on any diet should pay attention to their need for vitamin B12 and other nutrients.
The letter was published in response to a New England Journal of Medicine article introducing a new series on nutrition. “Many people are now shifting to plant-based diets, and their nutrition improves in the process,” Dr. Barnard says.
Reference: “Guidance on Energy and Macronutrients across the Life Span” by Steven B. Heymsfield and Sue A. Shapses, 10 April 2024, New England Journal of Medicine.
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMra2214275
Never miss a breakthrough: Join the SciTechDaily newsletter.
Follow us on Google and Google News.
9 Comments
Not this… AGAIN!
Plant based proteins doesn’t mean that processed, vegan crap…. think legumes and the like. Skip the veggie burger for dal soup.
You are totally correct. The “Plant Based Meat” of the article isn’t ultra-processed, but maximally-processed food, intended to be unrecognizable from its ingredients.
And, this article is complete garbage, from start to finish. The “Groundbreaking Study” referenced is from 2015, and found only a very modest weight loss in people eating additional fruit and certain vegetables, but also weight gain from eating other vegetables. It did not study mortality as claimed, nor did it study a plant-based (or vegan or vegetarian) diet at all, so its conclusions are misrepresented. The new NEJM article referenced appears to be paywalled, but it isn’t a study, simply “an overview of nutritional guidance, with a focus on energy and macronutrients”, which is very nice I’m sure, but was funded by the USDA, which exists to promote American agriculture. I think we all remember the organization that made junkfood into the 6th essential food group.
The article is written by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. If you look them up, you’ll find they are not physicians, but a radical animal-rights lobbying organization, funded by PETA, and founded by the letter writer Barnard. In the past their spokesperson advocated assassinating scientists. This is PETA pretending to be sciencey. The New England Journal of Medicine published the letter, saying Barnard receives royalties from nutrition advice, but “No other potential conflicts of interest relevant to this letter were reported”. I’m embarrassed for them, that they published without any consideration or research, trusting conflicts to be reported, which Barnard has taken advantage of by tying their journal to his advice.
SciTechDaily should reconsider publishing articles from this source, and probably make some disclaimer here. It is intentionally misleading. It perverts a simple letter-to-the-editor into a groundbreaking study, from a Washington-based political lobbying group whose former spokesperson advocated murdering Sci readers of SciTechDaily. However, I believe the article should stay online to show how scientific discussion, and the media, and we are being manipulated. Readers can still learn from this article, just not what Barnard intended.
YES, all that superprocessed sh*t is not necessary, so why do they keep it up?
In view of the fact that the far left is trying to destroy the consumption of meat due to their climate change hysteria, this coming now smacks of science compromised by leftist politics.
Rolls eyes as the the sky is red. again so repeat after me proles the sky is red.
Don’t listen to Bunk Based Article.
Animal Agriculture Industry:
Market Size: The global animal agriculture industry, which includes meat, dairy, eggs, and related products, is a colossal market. In 2022, the global meat industry alone was valued at approximately $1.3 trillion. When combined with the dairy industry (around $700 billion) and other animal products, the total market value exceeds $2 trillion annually.
Financial Resources: This industry comprises multinational corporations, extensive supply chains, and significant investments in production, marketing, and lobbying efforts. Their financial resources are used not only for business operations but also to influence policy and public perception through lobbying and advertising.
Vegan and Animal Rights Lobbyist Groups:
Financial Backing: Major animal rights organizations like PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), and others operate primarily on donations and grants. For instance:
PETA had an annual revenue of around $60 million in 2021.
HSUS reported revenues close to $100 million in the same period.
Combined Resources: When considering other organizations globally, the total annual financial resources of vegan and animal rights groups might amount to several hundreds of millions of dollars, but it’s unlikely to exceed $1 billion.
Dollar Amount Difference:
Approximate Calculation:
Animal Agriculture Industry: Over $2,000,000,000,000 ($2 trillion).
Vegan/Animal Rights Groups: Around $200,000,000 ($200 million).
Difference: Approximately $1,999,800,000,000 ($1.9998 trillion).
So be wary of the industry that doesn’t want you to find this study.
Everyone can listen to Dave.
I didn’t check your assertions Dave, and I’ll take them at face value, but they are economic and political. I will note that an “agricultural industry” produces products that feed people, while the “Vegan Animal Rights Groups” are special interest lobbying groups that just produce political pressure, and fewer people buy that; you’re literally comparing apples to ideology. You’re right that the food industry is bigger than the groups against it, but it’s a red herring that isn’t related to the article, the letter, the topic, health, science, or technology.
Which study are you talking about? This article wasn’t about a study, but a letter to an editor, about some paywalled nutritional overview article. Barnard did reference a decade-old “major Harvard study”, and I suggest that you and anyone else find and read it, which only correlated a little weight loss with adding eating additional fruit and non-starch vegetables to a Western diet. It was literally funded by multinational pharma, and also by the USDA which represents American agriculture. They didn’t just want you to find that study, they made it happen.
I think you’re arguing that the larger industry creates much more political pressure. I’d agree completely, even take it further, and say they create propaganda. This article too is propaganda, only for a different cause. As I said, they are manipulating us. If you want the truth, you have to try to be impartial. I think you particularly should read what I wrote, consider the mechanics of my argument, and develop the style of critical thinking I used. When you see a propagandist article made by the Animal Agriculture Industry backed by irrelevant or contrary or junk science, you’ll be able to put it through a woodchipper the same way I did here. Hopefully we both will.
This article remains bunk.
Use to be the more ypu read the more educated you are .gone in todays days the more you read the more programed and misinformed you are simply replace. The blank stupid look without an answer with a Cocky look and an answere that make no sense . Welcom to the Matrix
No animal products contain ANY fiber meaning 0. They do make people sick with disease galore, heart, cancer, all endocrine diseases, & you name it. That’s why all nutritionists eat vegan including Dr. Gundry.
I’m a staunch Republican. Try Nutmeg Notebook or Chef AJ for two. I have been thin whole life only feel better with no animal products