These guys...and it took me two seconds typing to get this from Doc Google about the ever Vegan moral superiority:
While all 20 standard proteinogenic amino acids are found in both plants and animals, certain non-proteinogenic amino acids and compounds are found exclusively or primarily in animal meat. Key examples include carnosine, taurine, and anserine, which are essential for muscle function and heart health.
Carnosine: Found only in animal-based foods, particularly meat and fish.
Taurine: Crucial for cardiovascular and muscular health, found in meat and seafood.
Anserine: Found primarily in skeletal muscle of vertebrates.
Creatine: Though technically not an amino acid, it is a derivative stored in
Carnosine: Found only in animal-based foods, particularly meat and fish.
Taurine: Crucial for cardiovascular and muscular health, found in meat and seafood.
Anserine: Found primarily in skeletal muscle of vertebrates.
Creatine: Though technically not an amino acid, it is a derivative stored in
muscles, primarily found in red meat and fish.
Note on Essential Amino Acids:
While no standard protein amino acids are only in meat, meat provides highly bioavailable, complete proteins containing all nine essential amino acids (such as methionine, lysine, and taurine) in high concentrations compared to plant sources.
Note on Essential Amino Acids:
While no standard protein amino acids are only in meat, meat provides highly bioavailable, complete proteins containing all nine essential amino acids (such as methionine, lysine, and taurine) in high concentrations compared to plant sources.
Now let's be fair:
Can those be synthesized by the human body from only plant based amino acids?
The short answer is yes, your body is capable of synthesizing almost all of these compounds from plant-based amino acids. However, there is a catch: the efficiency of that synthesis varies, and for some people, internal production might not match the levels found in a diet that includes meat.
Here is how your body handles those meat-specific compounds using only plant-based building blocks:
1. Creatine
The Process: Your liver and kidneys synthesize creatine using three amino acids:
The Process: Your liver and kidneys synthesize creatine using three amino acids:
arginine, glycine, and methionine.
Plant Sources: You can get these from pumpkin seeds (arginine), sesame seeds
Plant Sources: You can get these from pumpkin seeds (arginine), sesame seeds
(methionine), and legumes (glycine).
The Reality: Research shows that vegetarians and vegans generally have lower
The Reality: Research shows that vegetarians and vegans generally have lower
levels of creatine in their muscle tissue than meat-eaters, though their
bodies are still healthy.
2. Taurine
The Process: Your body synthesizes taurine from cysteine and methionine (with the
2. Taurine
The Process: Your body synthesizes taurine from cysteine and methionine (with the
help of Vitamin B6).
Plant Sources: Found in soy, sunflower seeds, and oats.
The Reality: While most adults produce enough taurine, infants and people with
The Reality: While most adults produce enough taurine, infants and people with
certain metabolic conditions may struggle to produce optimal amounts
without dietary sources.
3. Carnosine
The Process: This is made by combining histidine and beta-alanine.
Plant Sources: Histidine is plentiful in soy and whole grains; beta-alanine is found in
3. Carnosine
The Process: This is made by combining histidine and beta-alanine.
Plant Sources: Histidine is plentiful in soy and whole grains; beta-alanine is found in
smaller amounts in various vegetables.
The Reality: Similar to creatine, studies show that those on a plant-based diet
The Reality: Similar to creatine, studies show that those on a plant-based diet
typically have lower carnosine levels in their muscles, which might
impact high- intensity athletic performance (sprinting/lifting).
4. Hydroxyproline (Collagen)
The Process: Your body doesn't "absorb" collagen to make skin and joints; it builds its
4. Hydroxyproline (Collagen)
The Process: Your body doesn't "absorb" collagen to make skin and joints; it builds its
own using proline, glycine, and Vitamin C.
Plant Sources: Soy, cabbage, and beans provide the amino acids, while citrus and bell
Plant Sources: Soy, cabbage, and beans provide the amino acids, while citrus and bell
peppers provide the necessary Vitamin C.
The Reality: As long as you have the "bricks" (amino acids) and the "mortar"
The Reality: As long as you have the "bricks" (amino acids) and the "mortar"
(Vitamin C), your body is quite proficient at building its own collagen.
Summary Table
Compound Body Can Synthesize? Key Plant Building Blocks
Creatine Yes Arginine, Glycine, Methionine
Taurine Yes Cysteine, Methionine, Vit B6
Carnosine Yes Histidine, Beta-alanine
Collagen Yes Proline, Glycine, Vit C
Note on Vitamin B12: While not an amino acid, it is the one nutrient you cannot synthesize or get from plants. If you are pursuing a strictly plant-based diet, B12 must be supplemented.
Would you like me to create a high-protein plant-based meal plan that focuses on maximizing the precursors for these specific compounds?
Compound Body Can Synthesize? Key Plant Building Blocks
Creatine Yes Arginine, Glycine, Methionine
Taurine Yes Cysteine, Methionine, Vit B6
Carnosine Yes Histidine, Beta-alanine
Collagen Yes Proline, Glycine, Vit C
Note on Vitamin B12: While not an amino acid, it is the one nutrient you cannot synthesize or get from plants. If you are pursuing a strictly plant-based diet, B12 must be supplemented.
Would you like me to create a high-protein plant-based meal plan that focuses on maximizing the precursors for these specific compounds?
Based on contemporary state of the art biochemical knowledge, are synthesized amino acids one hundred percent comparable to the direct source or is there another impact?
From a biochemical perspective, the answer is nuanced:
The molecules themselves are identical, but the delivery system (the "food matrix") significantly changes how your body uses them.
To answer your question accurately, we have to look at the difference between isolated (synthesized/supplemented) amino acids and food-derived amino acids.
The molecules themselves are identical, but the delivery system (the "food matrix") significantly changes how your body uses them.
To answer your question accurately, we have to look at the difference between isolated (synthesized/supplemented) amino acids and food-derived amino acids.
1. The Molecule: 100% Identical
In biochemistry, a molecule of L-Leucine is exactly the same whether it was synthesized in a lab or extracted from a steak. Your cells have receptors that recognize the chemical structure; they cannot "tell" where the molecule originated.
Chirality (The "Mirror" Issue): One catch is that many synthetic processes create both
In biochemistry, a molecule of L-Leucine is exactly the same whether it was synthesized in a lab or extracted from a steak. Your cells have receptors that recognize the chemical structure; they cannot "tell" where the molecule originated.
Chirality (The "Mirror" Issue): One catch is that many synthetic processes create both
"Left-handed" ( L ) and "Right-handed" ( D ) versions of amino acids. Human biology
almost exclusively uses L-form amino acids.
High-quality supplements ensure they provide the L-form, making them biologically
identical to those in meat.
2. The Bioavailability Gap
While the molecule is the same, the impact on your body is not 100% comparable due to these factors:
2. The Bioavailability Gap
While the molecule is the same, the impact on your body is not 100% comparable due to these factors:
Absorption Speed: Synthetic amino acids are "free-form," meaning they don't require digestion. They hit your bloodstream almost instantly. Amino acids in meat are bound in complex protein structures that require stomach acid and enzymes to break down, leading to a slow, steady release.
The Food Matrix: Meat provides "co-factors" that assist in protein synthesis. For example, meat contains zinc, iron, and B vitamins that act as catalysts for the enzymes that actually use those amino acids to build muscle or neurotransmitters.
Antinutrients: Plant-based sources of amino acids often come with phytates or fibers that can slightly inhibit the absorption of certain minerals or the proteins themselves, a factor not present in purified synthetic versions.
3. Endogenous Synthesis vs. Direct Ingestion
You asked if synthesizing them in your own body (from plant precursors) is the same as eating them directly from meat. This is where the "Cost of Production" comes in:
Metabolic Tax: Synthesizing compounds like Creatine or Taurine internally requires energy (ATP) and "borrows" other amino acids (like Methionine) that could have been used for other things.
Genetic Variability: Some people are "poor converters." Due to genetic polymorphisms (variations), certain individuals are less efficient at synthesizing taurine or converting plant-based Omega-3s (ALA) into EPA/DHA. For these people, the "direct source" from meat/fish is superior to internal synthesis.
The Food Matrix: Meat provides "co-factors" that assist in protein synthesis. For example, meat contains zinc, iron, and B vitamins that act as catalysts for the enzymes that actually use those amino acids to build muscle or neurotransmitters.
Antinutrients: Plant-based sources of amino acids often come with phytates or fibers that can slightly inhibit the absorption of certain minerals or the proteins themselves, a factor not present in purified synthetic versions.
3. Endogenous Synthesis vs. Direct Ingestion
You asked if synthesizing them in your own body (from plant precursors) is the same as eating them directly from meat. This is where the "Cost of Production" comes in:
Metabolic Tax: Synthesizing compounds like Creatine or Taurine internally requires energy (ATP) and "borrows" other amino acids (like Methionine) that could have been used for other things.
Genetic Variability: Some people are "poor converters." Due to genetic polymorphisms (variations), certain individuals are less efficient at synthesizing taurine or converting plant-based Omega-3s (ALA) into EPA/DHA. For these people, the "direct source" from meat/fish is superior to internal synthesis.
Comparison Summary
Feature Synthetic/Body-Synthesized Direct Source (Meat)
Feature Synthetic/Body-Synthesized Direct Source (Meat)
Chemical Structure Identical (-isomers) Identical (-isomers)
Digestive Effort Zero (if free-form) High (requires enzymes)
Nutritional Context Isolated Includes B12, Zinc, Heme-Iron
Reliability Depends on your DNA/enzymes Guaranteed delivery
Digestive Effort Zero (if free-form) High (requires enzymes)
Nutritional Context Isolated Includes B12, Zinc, Heme-Iron
Reliability Depends on your DNA/enzymes Guaranteed delivery
The Verdict
Biochemically, they are qualitatively identical (the "what"), but functionally different (the "how"). If you provide your body with the right plant-based precursors and your metabolic pathways are healthy, your body can produce what it needs. However, the direct source from meat provides a "complete package" that is generally more efficient and reliable for the average person.
Would you like to know about the specific genetic markers that determine how well a person can synthesize these nutrients on a plant-based diet?
Biochemically, they are qualitatively identical (the "what"), but functionally different (the "how"). If you provide your body with the right plant-based precursors and your metabolic pathways are healthy, your body can produce what it needs. However, the direct source from meat provides a "complete package" that is generally more efficient and reliable for the average person.
Would you like to know about the specific genetic markers that determine how well a person can synthesize these nutrients on a plant-based diet?
Maybe it is a philosophical issue, because I believe that how is more important than what... You keep doing your thing and so do I.
#cyberpunkcoltoure
