We don’t eat protein just for protein. We eat it for the amino acids. There are 20 amino acids—9 of them are essential, meaning your body can’t make them. You have to get them from food. That’s what protein quality really means: how rich a food is in those essential amino acids. Yes, you can get protein from plants—but it’s not the same. If you want the highest quality amino acids, you’ll find them in meat, eggs, and whey. Your body knows the difference. Feed it what it needs. PMID: 26224750 PMI