Animal vs. Plant Protein
Today I’m exploring just a few of the nutritional science and traditional perspective differences between animal and plant proteins — while saving the ecological conversation for another time.
For the full deep dive, I have an entire chapter on protein in my ebook, available via my website (link in bio). Let’s go!
On a purely nutritional level, all protein is the same. When we eat a food containing protein — whether from plants or animals — the body breaks it down into amino acids. These amino acids are the worker units of the body responsible for many critical life processes:
Building and repairing tissues
Producing enzymes and hormones
Supporting immune function
Transporting and storing nutrients
Maintaining healthy skin, hair, and nails
Regulating metabolism and fluid balance
It’s long been recognised that our body can store amino acids for at least 24 hours, so while some plant foods don’t contain all the amino acids, if you’re eating a variety of foods this is no concern.
What does differ between plant and animal proteins is their packaging — the other nutrients that arrive alongside the protein.
Speaking very generally:
Animal protein sources often come with heme iron, calcium, vitamins A, D, and K, omega-3 fatty acids, and saturated fatty acids.
Plant protein sources tend to arrive with carbohydrates, fibre, the B-vitamin group, magnesium, chromium, omega-6, and higher levels of polyunsaturated fats.
When you look at them together, there’s a beautiful complementarity — each filling nutritional gaps the other may leave.
But when might you turn toward one over the other?
This is where traditional wisdom can be useful. In Eastern systems, animal foods are often classified as yang, or more kapha/pitta in Ayurveda — grounding, building, fortifying. They’re especially supportive when life is full and output is high — when you need staying power through long days, big projects, or emotionally demanding work. Animal proteins can help anchor the nervous system, restore reserves, and keep you steady in the push. They are also warming and especially useful in winter.
In excess, animal foods may make you feel overwrought, agitated, or dense.
Plant foods lean more toward yin or vata qualities — lighter, cooling, expansive. They often feel most satisfying in times of slower pace or gentle living: perhaps you’re on a yoga retreat or holiday, or you have a work/lifestyle where you can take your days at a more gentle pace. In those moments, lighter plant foods can feel deeply nourishing without weighing you down.
I am very wary to suggest that either lifestyle and its accompanying food choices is “better” or “more spiritual.” Discussions on the unnaturalness of the 9-to-5 lifestyle aside, the world needs nourished, grounded doers (yang) as well as gentle souls (yin) — and most of us move between these states at different times in life and even within a day.
The wisdom lies in releasing judgement, choosing the food that supports you best in this moment, and receiving it with gratitude.
