Life Kit: Health Want to build muscle? Eat more plants
Jun 26, 2025
Will Stone, NPR health correspondent, sheds light on the evolving science of plant protein and its surprising ability to build muscle similarly to animal protein. He discusses recent research from the University of Illinois, which challenges traditional views about the necessity of animal products for strength training. The conversation emphasizes the significance of dietary diversity among plant proteins and suggests that a well-rounded vegan diet can effectively support muscle growth. Tune in to discover how your protein choices can shift to a more plant-based focus!
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Protein Fuels Muscle Growth
- Muscle building requires both resistance training and sufficient protein intake to fuel muscle growth.
- Essential amino acids from protein are crucial as the body cannot produce them on its own.
Animal Protein Mirrors Muscle
- Animal protein closely matches our muscle's amino acid profile and contains all essential amino acids needed for muscle growth.
- This makes animal protein generally more effective per gram for muscle building compared to most plant proteins.
Plant Protein Amino Acid Gaps
- Plant proteins often lack or have lower levels of some essential amino acids like lysine and methionine.
- This difference led to the traditional view that plant protein was inferior for muscle building, especially in vegan diets.