Quote:
Originally Posted by Saccopoo
There is a flip side, though. As many of us know, animal protein can be extremely high in cholesterol and fat, particularly saturated fat, which can a serious risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Protein from plants and other vegetables tend to be much lower in saturated fat and cholesterol. Case in point? An 8-ounce ribeye steak contains 64 grams of protein, but also contains a whopping 34 grams of fat, 13 of them saturated. And let’s not forget the cholesterol — 260 milligrams, more than 80 percent of the daily recommended value. Yikes. A cup of cooked lentils packs 18 grams of protein but less than 1 gram of fat.
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1) Saturated fat is not necessarily bad. Everything in moderation. Ditto for cholesterol.
2) Not all animal protein is fat-laden. Chicken, turkey, fish, shrimp -- these things can be almost entirely lean.
I'll agree with them, though, that the focus on complete proteins is a bit overblown. While it's good to have a complete protein source, it's not absolutely necessary. The body can manufacture a lot of proteins on its own. There are a select few that need to come from outside sources.