Doctor: There is not a single vegetarian among centenarians

Dr. Svetlana Trofimova, President of the Russian Society of Anti-Aging Medicine, explained the role of protein in maintaining the youth of the body.

According to the doctor, protein is a vital substance necessary for the normal functioning of the body. It contributes to practically all metabolic processes in the human body. It is also responsible for building and restoring tissues and organs as well as synthesis of hormones.

She points out that the best source of protein is animal meat and fish, which contain about 20 percent, and their amino acid composition is ideal for the human body.

According to her, plant sources of protein have some shortcomings - their protein concentration is lower compared to animal sources. The composition of amino acids in plant protein is usually incomplete. Therefore, the body of a person who follows a vegetarian diet may lack certain amino acids to synthesize its own proteins. In addition, some plants contain substances that prevent the digestion of proteins.