Where Does Protein Come From? Plants.

All protein ultimately originates from plants. Animals don’t create protein from scratch, they recycle it from plant sources.

Here’s why:

No animal can extract nitrogen from the air and turn it into amino acids, the fundamental building blocks of protein. Only certain bacteria and archaea, often living in symbiosis with plants, can perform nitrogen fixation.

Plants take in these nitrogen compounds, create amino acids, and build proteins. When animals eat plants (or eat other animals that ate plants), they’re simply repurposing plant-derived protein.

But here’s what animals CAN’T give you:

Phytonutrients. Powerful compounds like polyphenols, anthocyanins, and carotenoids, exist only in plants. These, along with dietary fiber, provide immense health benefits and can’t be obtained from animal-based foods.

This biological truth reinforces the essential role of plants in the global food chain and our own well-being.