Question

Which vegetable protein is considered as good as animal protein?

• A. Soybean protein
• B. Corn protein
• C. Wheat protein
• D. Bengal gram protein

Hint:

Soybean is often called the poor man's meat because its protein quality rivals animal protein.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understand protein quality.
Not all proteins are equal in quality. A good quality protein must contain all the essential amino acids in the right amounts, the same way animal proteins like milk, egg, and meat do. This is called a complete protein.

Step 2: Look at soybean protein.
Soybean is a legume that is unusually rich in protein, about 40 percent by weight, and it supplies almost all the essential amino acids in amounts close to those found in animal protein. Because of this balanced amino acid profile, nutritionists rate soybean protein as being as good as animal protein and often call soybean the poor man's meat.

Step 3: Check the other vegetable proteins.

(B) Corn protein: Corn protein, called zein, is low in the essential amino acids lysine and tryptophan, so it is an incomplete protein. Incorrect.

(C) Wheat protein: Wheat protein, mainly gluten, is also poor in lysine, so it does not match animal protein quality. Incorrect.

(D) Bengal gram protein: Bengal gram (chickpea) protein is a good source of protein but is limited in the sulfur containing amino acid methionine, so it falls short of animal protein quality. Incorrect.

Step 4: Final answer.
Among the given options, only soybean protein comes closest in quality to animal protein. \[ \boxed{\text{Soybean protein}} \]