To determine if a protein is of plant or animal origin, you can follow these tips:
- Check the product label: The label of a food or dietary supplement will generally indicate whether the protein is plant or animal-based. Look for words like “vegetarian,” “vegan,” or the specific source of the protein, like “soy,” “pea,” or “rice protein,” which often indicate plant-based protein.
- Read the ingredient list: Examine the ingredient list on the product packaging. If you see plant protein sources such as soy, peas, rice, almonds, walnuts, or similar, the protein is likely plant-based. In contrast, if you see animal-based ingredients like meat, egg, whey, or casein, then it is an animal-based protein.
- Research the product: If you are unsure after reviewing the label and ingredient list, you can research the product online.
- Know common sources: Familiarize yourself with common sources of plant and animal protein. Plant proteins typically come from legumes (soy, peas, lentils), grains (rice, wheat, oats), nuts (almonds, walnuts), seeds (chia, hemp), and plant-based products such as tofu and tempeh. . On the other hand, proteins of animal origin come from meat, fish, eggs, dairy products and other products of animal origin.
In short, the information on the label, the ingredient list, and knowledge of common sources of plant and animal proteins will help you determine whether a protein is plant-based or not.