Let's start with the basics: What are proteins?

The word protein comes from the Greek word "proteios," which means "of utmost importance." There's a good reason for this, because proteins are the basic building blocks of all cells and thus our body structure. They are essential for numerous functions in the body, such as hormone production, the maintenance of skin, hair, and bones, and muscle building.

Proteins consist of chained amino acids, the combination of which determines the type and function of the protein. As macronutrients, proteins, like fats and carbohydrates, are energy-providing nutrients. They are utilized daily in the body's metabolic processes, which is why a sufficient protein intake is essential for good health.

Amino acids that are part of the body's own proteins are called proteinogenic amino acids. There are 20 different proteinogenic amino acids, 11 of which can be produced naturally in the body. The remaining 9 must be obtained through food, which is why they are called "essential amino acids." And these essential amino acids are precisely what we mean when we talk about "protein intake through the diet."

The source of these nine amino acids is primarily plants and microorganisms. This means that animals do not produce these important amino acids, but rather obtain them from external sources, just like we do. Animal protein is therefore definitely not necessary to supply the body with all the essential amino acids.

Let's get into the details: Why are vegan proteins so healthy?

Plant-based protein sources are more than enough to help your muscles grow. They provide not only essential amino acids, but also fiber, vitamins, minerals, and trace elements. In contrast, animal proteins contain hardly any other important nutrients. The following foods, for example, are particularly rich in protein:

Protein content of food

While plants almost always contain all essential amino acids, some of them are present in insufficient quantities. Therefore, the amino acid profiles of these foods are considered "incomplete." Exceptions to this are lupin, soy, and hemp, which are also referred to as "complete proteins" due to their complete amino acid profiles. The right combination of vegan protein sources is therefore particularly important. This allows the proteins to complement each other and increases the biological value.

Question: What exactly is this “biological value”?

The biological value indicates the quality of a food protein. It shows how similar a food protein is to our body's own protein. The more similar the amino acid profiles are, the higher the biological value of the protein and the better the body can utilize it. Protein from legumes and grains, for example, complement each other perfectly and provide a complete amino acid profile with a high biological value. This knowledge has existed for centuries, as many traditional dishes feature precisely this combination of foods: Mexican bean stir-fry with corn, fried rice with tofu, chili sin carne with rice, or flatbread with hummus.

Vegan proteins

Reality test: What do I do if I don't have time to cook?

There are many vegan protein sources that, when combined correctly, provide plenty of high-quality protein. But maybe you're like us – your days just don't have enough hours? You don't have time to cook, you travel a lot, always work long hours, or train often? That's what happened to us a few years ago, and we went on the hunt for a vegan protein powder to provide our bodies with sufficient protein. Despite a long search, we simply couldn't find a product that met our expectations – so we changed that: After over a year of development, our plant-based organic protein powder is now finished and perfect. It meets all our high standards – and we're proud! Because it's vegan, contains ingredients from certified organic farming, is free from artificial sweeteners and allergens, dissolves easily (even in cold liquid), is wonderfully creamy, and tastes fantastic!

Try our organic protein powder and tell us what you think – we're always happy to hear from you or write a product review.