Editor’s note
We are firm believers in animal-based protein here at mindbodygreen. If you don’t get enough leucine, which is what happens when you eat plant-based protein, it doesn’t matter how much protein you eat. For example, you can have 40 grams of low-cost plant-based protein that provides 1.5 g of leucine, which is not as good as 25 grams of high-quality animal protein, which provides 2.5 grams of leucine. If you don’t hit 2.5 grams of leucine, you won’t hit the trigger for protein synthesis (MPS). MPS is important for building and maintaining muscle, which is part of longevity.