Unlocking The Anabolic Potential of Beef Protein

Written By: Steven Cleark

Published on: April 3, 2023

Expert Review By:

Fact Checked

READ MORE

Expert Recommended

READ MORE

This Guide Provides Insight Into:

• How beef protein provides a favorable anabolic environment for muscle growth
• The comparison between beef protein and other protein sources 
• How you can include beef protein into your dietary routine
• The potential risks associated with beef protein usage 

Nowadays athletes, bodybuilders or fitness enthusiasts no longer struggle to maximize their protein intake. Animal protein sources such as beef have made it easier to boost the protein content in the paleo diet. Proteins are the building blocks of the body's organs, muscles, cells, and tissues.  Furthermore, your body relies on protein for energy if you are low on carbs. 

Beef protein is considered a complete protein source since it is high in quality protein. It also contains other nutrients like vitamins and `minerals, which promote muscle maintenance and growth. According to a research study, beef protein is also rich in iron, thus minimizing the risk of anemia. 

What stands out the most in Beef Protein is its anabolic potential- Its ability to promote the growth, repair, and maintenance of bodily tissues, specifically muscles. This blog shares the science of how beef protein improves muscle function, mass, protein synthesis, and recovery. We further share the comparative study with other sources of protein to help you pick the best protein supplement for your individual need. 

The Science Behind the Anabolic Potential of Beef Protein

Many people know that beef protein is good for muscle growth and repair, but they need help understanding its science. There are essential amino acids that have a major role to play in muscle growth. These amino acids (valine, leucine, and isoleucine) are vital for endurance, focus, muscle growth, and recovery. So when purchasing a beef protein supplement, look for one with a higher leucine content. 

Leucine is crucial because it plays a key role in muscle protein synthesis (MPS). It not only stimulates MPS but also maximizes the new muscle cell output. According to a research study, leucine also increases skeletal muscle production, including its metabolites. The study further suggests that one of the skeletal muscle metabolites supports building muscle mass and growth.

In general, BCAAs are vital for producing new tissues in your body. Without a sufficient supply of BCAAs, your body may not be able to support a faster muscle recovery and rebuilding. This means that once you are done with your workouts, you may experience intense muscle soreness. Besides that, BCAAs also fuel your body during workouts by providing the energy required to lift weights or perform resistance training. 

What Are The Benefits of Consuming Beef Protein For Muscle Growth?

Beef protein is becoming a popular protein source because of its availability, potency, and high quality. On top of that, it is highly bioavailable and digestible, meaning that the nutrients are immediately absorbed into the bloodstream upon consumption. 

Additionally, you get to benefit from the richness of essential amino acids that trigger muscle protein synthesis. 

Beef protein is unique because it contains nutrients such as creatine that stimulate muscle recovery. The latter is a popular tri-peptide compound that regenerates adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in skeletal muscle. What makes this a crucial role is that ATP is the primary energy source for your muscles. So that points out how beef protein is a vital nutrient for muscle growth. If you are not already aware, creatine is best known for its ergogenic properties that stimulate muscle endurance, strength, and mass and minimize muscle soreness. 

How Does Beef Protein Compare to Other Protein Sources For Muscle Growth?

Individuals following a  paleo diet or allergic to dairy products have been linked to beef protein due to the favorable anabolic environment. But how does it compare to other protein sources?

Comparison to Whey Protein

If you are sensitive to milk or dairy-related products, whey protein may not be the best choice. You also wouldn’t look beyond beef protein if you are looking for a protein supplement while on a paleo diet. Beef protein’s amino acid profile is only second to whey protein, but beef protein’s nutritional value in muscle growth is almost equal to whey protein's. 

 However, many studies also support whey protein’s role in muscle growth, but we can’t say the same about beef protein. This creates a significant disparity between the two protein sources. 

Comparison to Plant-Based Proteins

Beef protein, being an animal-based protein, has all the essential amino acids. Many scientific studies classify it as a complete protein source. On the other hand, plant-based proteins are primarily classified as incomplete protein sources; thus, we’d say beef protein is superior in terms of protein levels. The implication is that beef protein contains essential amino acids that support muscle protein synthesis and growth.

Comparison to Casein Protein

As animal-based proteins, casein and beef protein contain high-quality protein, which studies suggest has a significant role in boosting human growth, nutrition, and development. The major difference between these two protein sources is the amino acid profile; casein contains more essential BCAAs than beef protein, which probably makes it a better muscle growth stimulant than beef protein.

Comparison to Egg Protein

Beef protein provides more protein per gram compared to egg protein. However, studies show that egg protein (97%) has a higher digestibility rate than beef protein (94%). What this means is that egg protein would be particularly ideal for post-workout. But beef protein would be the best bet if you are looking for higher protein content.

How to Incorporate Beef Protein Into Your Diet For Muscle Growth

There are numerous ways you can integrate beef protein into your diet. You can consume it as a main dish, in a salad, sandwich, or smoothie. But there are other things you should also note when you want to incorporate beef protein into your daily diet. 

Best Ways to Cook Beef For Muscle Growth

You can broil, bake, grill, or stir-fry your beef depending on what is appealing to you. The ultimate objective is to increase your protein intake.

Best Time to Consume Beef Protein

You can include beef protein as part of your breakfast menu, mid-day snack, or post-workout snack. Alternatively, you can also consume it before bed.

Best Beef Protein Supplements For Muscle Growth

Depending on your nutritional demands, you can choose beef protein isolate, concentrate, hydrolysate, or blend. The latter entails getting a beef protein supplement combining two or all beef protein forms. Some of the best beef protein products include:

• MuscleMeds - Carnivor Original Fruity Cereal 56 Servings
• Musclemeds: Carnivor Keto Meal Vanilla 14 Servings
• Ostrim: 100% Grass-Beef Stick Ostrich Added Natural Flavor 10 Servings
• Ostrim: 100% Grass-Fed Beef & Elk Stick Habanero Flavor 10 Servings
• Musclemeds: Carnivor Mass Chocolate Fudge 25 Servings

The Safety And Risks of Consuming Beef Protein For Muscle Growth

Scientific studies show that consuming excess beef protein may increase the risk of certain cancers, cardiovascular disease, and kidney damage. Further studies also suggest that you should avoid beef protein if you have high cholesterol. However, nothing is without risks these days, so we can’t take away the health benefits of beef protein on your body. 

Beef protein is a great iron source, thus making it an excellent choice for anemic people. It is also rich in Zinc which supports the immune system; this provides a perfect option for adolescents and children to thrive and grow.

Conclusion

Beef protein is rich in numerous essential micronutrients that you may not know about. In addition to protein, you also benefit from nutrients like iron, carnosine, zinc, and creatine. This means that the benefits of beef protein supersede muscle growth and repair alone. You can improve your blood health as well as immunity with beef protein. Otherwise, ensure that the supplement does not contain any allergen to avoid potential side effects.