Research

Macro partitioning

Processing plant proteins (e.g., isolation, heating, fermentation) significantly improves their digestibility and bioavailability, making them more effective for MPS than raw plant foods.

If you struggle to eat enough plant protein from whole foods alone, consider using plant protein isolates or concentrates (like pea or soy isolate). These are processed to remove anti-nutrients that block digestion, making the protein much more available for your muscles than raw beans or grains.

GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Plant proteins that undergo processing to improve their digestibility have improved protein and other nutrient bioavailability... The processing used to produce commercially available protein concentrates and isolates makes it possible to inactivate up to 80% of the activity of trypsin inhibitors present in bean flour in its raw form.
Sarah Nichele et al. · Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism · 2022

Why this rating

Supported by multiple studies cited in the review.

Source

Plant-based food patterns to stimulate muscle protein synthesis and support muscle mass in humans: a narrative review

Sarah Nichele et al. · Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism · 2022

narrative_reviewCited 53×
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