You’ve probably heard that animal protein is better than plant-based protein because it’s complete… Right?! 

Truth is, that doesn’t show the full picture. Here’s what you really need to know about the quality of these different sources of protein!

Protein is needed for:

• Muscle repair -- especially post workout!
• Hair, skin, and nail health -- yes please! 
• Satiety -- buh-bye mindless snacking! 

Amino acids are the building blocks of protein! Most can be produced by your body, but 9 of them need to be from your diet, making them essential. 

Animal proteins? They’ve got all 9 essential amino acids! Plant proteins on the other hand are considered incomplete proteins because they lack some essential amino acids. 

There are pros and cons to both animal and plant-based proteins. 

Animal proteins provide all essential amino acids, but they lack fiber! 

Plant based proteins often don’t contain all essential amino acids, so you need to combine different sources to make a complete protein! The pro is that plant-based proteins are rich in fiber, which supports digestive health, weight management, and heart health! 

Koia’s protein shakes provide all essential amino acids, combining brown rice protein, pea protein, and chickpea protein into a complete protein source. 

Your body is like a puzzle and essential amino acids are like puzzle pieces! When combined appropriately, you get a complete puzzle… Or in this case, protein! 

These shakes combine the following ingredients to make a complete protein: 

• Brown rice protein is low in lysine and threonine but contains other essential amino acids
• Pea protein is considered a high quality protein, containing all 9 essential amino acids
• Chickpea protein lacks methionine and cystine, but contributes to the overall amino acid profile 

Gut supporting fiber and a complete protein in a bottle?! Sign me up!!

Meet our Expert
This article is written by Hailey Gorski, RDN.

Hailey Gorski is a LA-based media Dietitian who specializes in sustainable fat loss. She empowers women to develop a healthy relationship with food while getting results. She graduated from UW-Madison with a bachelors in dietetics and certificate in entrepreneurship and complete her dietetic rotations at Loyola University Chicago! She has been featured in Livestrong.com, EatThisNotThat, BeachBody on Demand, and MyFitnessPal.com