Products of plant origin: list. Plant-based vs. Animal-based Products: A Comparison of Advantages and Disadvantages

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

We are what we eat. This truth is familiar to many. At the same time, we are all different, differ in gender and age, as well as taste preferences. Perhaps that is why the debate about which products are the most useful does not subside. Today we want to conduct a comparative analysis of two large food groups: food of plant and animal origin. As a result, in addition to the conclusions, a list will appear. Products of plant origin, as well as heavier, from the point of view of nutritionists, but more nutritious in their properties, of animal origin are well known to all of us, but it will not be superfluous to systematize our knowledge.

Systematizing all the experience of modern dietology

It's actually quite difficult to separate one from the other. Only at first glance, the standard food pyramid reflects the diversity of food available. As you know, at its base lie porridge andgrain products, fruits and vegetables are located above, then proteins (milk, meat, fish), and at the very top - sweets and fat. This pyramid clearly shows how much space in your diet should be occupied by certain foods. However, it does not separate plant products (listed below) from their animal counterparts. Both proteins and fats can be supplied to our body from different sources, giving a different load on the digestive organs, as well as different energy potential. That is why today we decided to separate these two important product groups.

Plant food

These are useful and essential products for our body. These are all the gifts that we receive from plants. By the way, mushrooms and algae do not belong here, in terms of their properties they are in the middle between plant and animal food. What are the benefits of herbal products? The list will allow you to form the most useful and complete diet. So, this is primarily a source of fiber, which is so lacking in the abundance of animal proteins and fats in the diet. There are a lot of vitamins and minerals, amino acids in the products of this group. However, let's look at each group individually.

Cereals

This is the basis of our nutrition. Every day in the diet should be present these products of plant origin. The list is quite extensive. These are cereals and flour products. FirstThese include cereals and legumes. A feature of these types of food products is a large amount of protein. They are easier to digest than animal products, but they are very nutritious and provide a huge supply of energy. Of all the variety of plant foods, it is grains that can act as a complete meal. Soybeans and peas, beans and beans, buckwheat and millet are all he althy and not too high-calorie vegetable protein products. The list can be supplemented by wheat and barley, alfalfa and flax, hops and lentils. In addition to proteins, fats and carbohydrates, they contain a large amount of vitamins and minerals.

Fruits and vegetables

Vegetables play a huge role in our diet. These are various parts and fruits of herbaceous plants and shrubs. Moreover, these can be roots, like carrots, or leaf buds, such as cabbage, or maybe stems (asparagus). All plant products from this group are easily digestible, contain little protein and fat and a large amount of vitamins. If vegetables are, rather, the main food, then fruits are a he althy and tasty treat. These are the fruits of trees that are rich in carbohydrates, vitamins and fiber. By adding them regularly to the diet, we not only provide ourselves with energy, but also increase immunity.

Berries, nuts, herbs

These plant-based foods are additional sources of beneficialsubstances, vitamins, trace elements and minerals. Berries are very similar in properties to fruits, but contain more organic acids, creating a load on the teeth and gastrointestinal tract. If you decide to exclude animal products for a while, then be sure to include nuts in the menu. They are easily digestible, contain proteins, fats and carbohydrates, vitamins, that is, they are a complete meal. However, they are very high in calories and quite expensive. Finally, the aromatic herbs that we use as seasonings have many beneficial substances, they contain vitamins and substances that improve digestion.

Animal Products

Here we need to return to our nature. It was not in vain that ancient man used for food not only what he obtained by gathering, but also hunting trophies. Because for optimal functioning, a person needs products of animal and vegetable origin. You can bring the list of the first ones yourself, they are on your table every day. These are meat and offal, fish and eggs, as well as milk. Moreover, it is very important and useful to use not only and not so much whole milk as fermented milk products. This is primarily kefir and cottage cheese, sour cream and cheese. They are rich in proteins and fats, contain carbohydrates and vitamins, as well as various enzymes. Of course, the nutritional value of plant products is significantly inferior to their nutritional value. However, it is also impossible to say that only one or other products are useful for the body. The optimal ratio is considered to be 30% of the diet, consisting of meat, fish, cottage cheese,about the same amount is allocated to cereals, and everything else is fruits and vegetables. That is, 70% of our diet should be plant-based.

Last analysis

Animal products are the main source of protein, which cannot be replaced by anything. However, their main drawback is their high calorie content, the presence of refractory fats and bad cholesterol. However, by choosing lean fish and chicken, eggs and low-fat dairy products, you practically neutralize these shortcomings. The protein contained in them is an extremely important building material, the supply of which must be replenished daily. In addition, it is a source of essential amino acids. That is, these products should be on the table every day. But this does not detract from the advantages of plant foods. Vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, fiber, vegetable protein and fats are all provided by cereals, vegetables and fruits, so the optimal diet can only be when using all these products.

What's on the list?

We have not mentioned products that cannot be unequivocally assigned to one of the listed groups. Despite the fact that honey, propolis and other bee products are not originally of animal origin, they belong to this group. Mushrooms stand apart, as well as algae, which are rich in carbohydrates and trace elements. Yeast and microorganisms are not food, but they help us get fluffy bread and delicious kefir for breakfast, so tooare part of our diet.