Hungry Planet® Blog:

Animal Protein VS Soy Protein!

Jody Boyman | Co-Founder & CPO 

______

We got a dietitian’s take on animal protein compared to soy protein. As the world shifts away from animal protein and continues to look for alternative versions of protein, the use of soy will become more prevalent than it already is. There are myths about soy-based products, and it can be confusing to comb through research when picking the best alternative protein for you, your family, and your lifestyle.

That’s why we went straight to the source, Hungry Planet Affiliate and Registered Dietitian, Alex Caspero, to get a better understanding of just how nutritious and versatile soy actually is.

 

Why is Soy Misunderstood?

“Soy is one of the most misunderstood foods I think in a lot of the general public, but it is not misunderstood in the scientific community,” said Caspero. “Soy is one of the most well-studied foods over the past decades and we have hundreds and hundreds of good, high-quality, human randomized controlled trials and also observational trials that continue to sort of talk about the benefits of soy as not only helpful when it comes to heart health but also chronic diseases like type II diabetes, and certain cancers.”

“Soy is one of the most misunderstood foods I think in a lot of the general public, but it is not misunderstood in the scientific community,”

Are People Becoming More Familiar with Soy?

Questions are becoming less frequent as people learn more. Experts, such as Caspero, believe that soy is the plant protein that is the most nutritious, most versatile, most globally available, and most importantly, the one that leads to the most authentic meat taste and texture. When developing our plant-based meal builders, we valued the importance of superior nutritionals and no sacrifice of conventional meat taste and texture which is why we chose a soy-protein base.

Additionally, soy is a complete protein — one of the few plant-based proteins offering consumers all of the essential amino acids their bodies need. Soy helps pack our meats with as much or slightly more protein than conventional meat.

 

Why Hungry Planet Chefs Choose Soy

We chose soy intentionally based on this combination of factors. From the beginning, we have promised to deliver on what plant-based meats should be: authentically delicious, demonstrably healthy, and span across all meat types and global cuisines. By using soy, we can provide plant-based meat options for all consumers looking to better personal and planetary health with a simple 1:1 swap.