New research suggests that potato protein could help build muscle in a similar way to animal protein.
Most searches for fitness and bodybuilding meal plans still include foods like dairy, steak, and grilled chicken. But more and more athletes are switching to plant-based foods. Many, like Olympian runner David Verburg, cite an increase in energy after going vegan. But this new research shows that plant-based foods also have muscle-building effects.
The Alliance for Potato Research & Education funded the new study. Researchers from Maastricht University in the Netherlands discovered that protein concentrate derived from potatoes may also support muscle repair and growth.
Published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, the new study involved 24 young, healthy, active men. They drank 30 grams of potato protein or milk protein after a workout.
The researchers recognized that the small number of people was a research limitation. They also cited a lack of gender and age diversity as a drawback.
However, lead author Dr. Luc J.C. van Loon told Medical News Today: “The main outcome is that potato-derived protein ingestion can increase muscle protein synthesis rates at rest and exercise. This response does not differ from ingesting an equivalent amount of milk protein.”
Building muscle on a plant-based diet
Potatoes are not renowned for their protein content. But, potato protein concentrate, which is extracted from the juice residue of the crop, has a similar amino acid composition to milk protein.
While the study focused on potatoes, there are a number of bodybuilders that prove muscle can be built on a balanced, nutritious plant-based diet.
Last year, another study published in the British Journal of Nutrition found that plant-based protein can compete with chicken when it comes to foods that support muscle-building.
Leave a Comment
Plant Based News Comment Policy
In short:- If you act with maturity and consideration for other users, you should have no problems. Please read our Comment policy before commenting.
I’m sorry but I dont believe that Brian Turner and Jon Venus aren’t taking steroids. They need to do a video of themselves being tested for the use of anabolic steroids otherwise we can only presume they are scammers. Whatever diet you are on and however the amount of training you achieve I Wouk’s say it’s almost impossible to achieve and sustain this level of physique without taking steroids or unless you have freaky genetic which very few of us do and even if they do it’s very misleading to say this kind if physique can be achieved through a plant based diet and training. Until people like Turner and Venus can prove they are nit taking steroids then I would be very suspicious of their claims and would say it’s irresponsible to promote their claims until they have categorically proved they are drug free.
Thanks for your comment Jonas. Their physiques are impressive but not indicative of steroid use- just consistent, hard work. Accusing them of steroid use is certainly a compliment though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KO0aFXZdBY
Hello, Jon Venus has been removed from the article.
Just like the other influencers that eat meat on the internet you mean? I don’t see many of them admitting to steroid use either.
ALL bodybuilders at that level of development are on steroids – whether they are vegan or not.
Thank you for the article. Unfortunately the link to the study is missing. It should be this one, right?
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35438672/
Although it is an interesting study and even more interesting results, it should be taken into consideration, that it was performed on a rather small group of individuals (only men, all 24+- 4 years of age).
This indicates, that further studies have to be done.
I should mention that I’m absolutely pro plant-based! I just refer to the scientific facts.