That being said, here at MindBodyGreen, we believe that high-quality animal protein still plays an important role in a healthy, balanced diet. Animal proteins provide highly bioavailable amino acids (such as leucine, the most important amino acid for triggering muscle protein synthesis) and nutrients such as B12, iron, zinc and omega-3s (important for metabolism, energy and cognitive health), which are difficult to obtain in adequate amounts through plant proteins alone. As a former vegetarian, I can attest to this.
