STUDY: Plant-Based Protein Builds Muscle Better Than Milk Protein
STUDY: Plant-Based Protein Builds Muscle Better Than Milk Protein

STUDY: Plant-Based Protein Builds Muscle Better Than Milk Protein

  • Hannah Bugga
  • Hannah Bugga

A study from the University of Exeter found that mycoprotein, a vegan protein created by vegetarian company Quorn, stimulated post-exercise muscle building better than milk protein did.

Researchers put 20 healthy young men through resistance exercises before giving them either milk protein or mycoprotein, a high-quality protein made from a fungus. Participants’ muscle-building rates were measured in the hours after protein consumption.

The results were clear: The increase in muscle-building rates of those who ingested the mycoprotein was more than double the increase of those who consumed the milk protein. Dr. Benjamin Wall, associate professor of nutritional physiology at the University of Exeter, said:

Our data show that mycoprotein can stimulate muscles to grow faster in the hours following exercise compared with a typical animal comparator protein (milk protein)—we look forward to seeing whether these mechanistic findings translate to longer-term training studies in various populations.

While this is exciting news, bodybuilders who eat only vegan foods should be sure to check the ingredients. Many Quorn products contain eggs.

Tim Finnigan, chief scientific adviser for Quorn Foods, was understandably pleased by the results:

We’re excited to see this data being presented by the University of Exeter at ECSS. In a world where many people are trying to cut back on their meat consumption, either for environmental or health reasons, we’re happy to be able to offer an alternative protein that can provide exceptional nutrition and muscle growth, all while being meat-free.

While mycoprotein is sold exclusively by Quorn, meat-free bodybuilding has already taken the world by storm. In fact, Game Changers, a new documentary that extols the strength benefits of plant-based eating, is set to premiere this September.

Executive produced by legends James Cameron, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Jackie Chan, the film profiles the rise of vegan eating in the athletic world. In an Instagram post, Schwarzenegger writes: “James Cameron and I have teamed up again. This time to terminate outdated myths about protein, strength, and performance.”

Start your health journey today! Order a FREE Vegetarian Starter Guide for easy plant-based recipes and fun meal ideas.