Vegan Protein Is Just As Effective At Building Muscle As Animal Protein, Study Shows

EAT

Apr 12

The scientific research reveals that mushroom-based mycoprotein was found to increase muscle mass and strength to the same extent as animal-based meat.

Vegan protein made from mushrooms is just as effective at building muscle as animal protein, according to a new study.

Researchers from England’s University of Exeter explored whether a vegan diet rich in mycoprotein - a fungi-derived protein popularly known as Quorn - can support muscle growth during strength training to the same extent as a diet rich with animal-based protein.

Published in the Journal of Nutrition, the two-phase study began with 16 healthy young adults who had their metabolism results compared after three days of eating either an omnivorous diet or an exclusively vegan one.

Then in phase two, 22 participants, who adopted a high-protein diet fuelled by either animal-based meat or vegan mycoprotein, then took part in 10-weeks of high volume progressive resistance training.

The results found that the mushroom-based mycoprotein increased muscle mass and strength among the participants to the same extent as protein from animal-based meat.

Specifically, the group who adopted a high protein omnivorous diet gained 2.6 kg of whole-body lean mass, compared to the participants on a vegan diet who gained 3.1 kg. Further, the thigh muscles of both groups increased the same amount - 8.3 percent - over the course of the trial.

“It is well established that muscle building can be augmented by adhering to a high protein diet,” said Dr Alistair Monteyne, the researcher who conducted the trial at the University of Exeter.

A selection of Quorn’s products, all made with mycoprotein. Credit: Quorn

“Our study demonstrates that mycoprotein is comparable to animal proteins in terms of its ability to facilitate increases in muscle mass and strength in young adults who are regularly engaging in resistance training”, adds Monteyne.

Mushrooms as a Sustainable Solution

‘Meat’ made from mushrooms is positioned as a key solution in the future of food, capable of feeding the world’s growing population in a healthier and more sustainable way without harming animals.

A recent environmental study found that the level of deforestation could be slashed in half if we replaced 20 percent of beef with fungi-based meat alternatives by 2050.

Such a stat highlights the destructive carbon-footprint of beef production, which requires huge swathes of land to not only farm the animals, but to also grow the crops that feed the livestock too. The problem is so pervasive that beef farming is the largest driver of deforestation in every Amazon country, and accounts for 80 percent of current deforestation.

Climate science shows that increasing the widespread consumption of mushrooms and other plant-based proteins - protein sources that generally have a substantially-less carbon footprint than protein from farmed animals - would help tackle global emissions from livestock farming.

“At a time when a growing number of people are following official dietary advice to consume less meat for the sake of their health and the planet, it is positive that a high-quality meat-free protein that is scientifically proven to build muscle mass at a rate comparable to any animal-derived protein is available”, said Tim Finnigan, Scientific Advisor for Quorn Foods, which uses mycoprotein in its products.

Leading the Mushroom Revolution

In the U.S., companies like Meati are already showcasing the power - and taste - of mushroom-based protein. The company recently launched its new ‘mega ranch’ which will cultivate tens of millions of pounds of Meati - its animal-free meat that’s made from mushroom root - at a scale that will match and often exceed that of the U.S.’s largest animal-based ranches.

The company’s product range shows the versatility and potential of mushroom protein, ranging from crispy chicken-style breaded cutlets to a beef-style steak.

“Our belief that nature already has the answer to many of today’s challenges allowed us to unlock a new food with Meati at a time when consumers are demanding something different and better,” explained Tyler Huggins, CEO and co-founder of Meati Foods.

Our choices matter to animals. Do you think you could embrace plant-based living for 7 days? We do. Sign up for the Species Unite 7-Day Vegan Challenge to discover a whole new world, from recipes that will trick your most carnivorous friends to shoes, boots, and bags made from some of the most magical plants on the planet. Take part here!

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