Plant Peptides 101 – Beyond Collagen Peptides

Scientific inquiry moves in waves. 

During the first half of the 20th century, the bulk of nutritional science focused on isolating vitamins and elucidating their role in human health. The quest for the ideal diet was the target of research from the 1950s to the 1970s, with researchers embroiled in controversies over which was more villainous: fat or sugar. From the 1970s to the 1990s, nutrition scientists switched their focus to how dietary changes might prevent chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer. And from the 1990s on, there has been a flurry of research into obesity, the gut microbiome, personalized nutrition, and peptides. 

If you haven’t already, you’re about to see peptides — especially collagen peptide — in the news a lot. These crucial compounds play a role in every cellular biological process in the body. But if you are interested in the benefits of collagen peptide, which is derived from animals, you might want to consider plant peptides instead. This article will answer some of the questions you may have about peptides, including what they are and where they are found. It will also explain what is special about plant peptides, what they can do for you, and why they are an excellent option if you are looking for a vegan alternative to collagen peptides. (often referred to as “vegan collagen peptides”).

Breaking Down Protein, Literally: Understanding Protein, Peptides, and Amino Acids

Protein, peptides, and amino acids are related, but not the same. Proteins are large, complex molecules. They are made of peptides, which are in turn made of chains of bonded amino acids. A peptide consists of two or more amino acids. Larger peptides, called polypeptides, have 10 amino acids or more, and usually about 20. Proteins generally have at least 50-100 amino acids and often more.

One important difference between proteins and peptides is that proteins have a more fixed, less bioavailable configuration. As a result, in order for proteins to be digested, they need to be broken down into smaller chains of amino acids, such as dipeptides or tripeptides (peptides consisting of two or three amino acids).Peptides, on the other hand, are more quickly digested, absorbed, and utilized by the body.

Another advantage of peptides over protein is their familiarity to the human body. Because the human body naturally produces peptides, it easy for it to recognize peptides from the diet and put them to use. In fact, human physiology is naturally equipped with a variety of peptide receptors. Some receptors can accept more than one kind of peptide, making them incredible multi-taskers. 

Peptides have advantages over individual amino acids too. Amino acids are versatile; they can be used to create any number of different peptides and proteins, in the same way flour can be used to make cookies, sauces, or bread. But that’s the trick — on their own, they’re useless. All the other amino acids for a specific peptide or protein “recipe” need to be present for them to provide their benefits.

Because peptides are easier to digest and more versatile than proteins — yet more powerful than individual amino acids — they make a happy medium for supplementation. That is one reason collagen peptide supplement products have become so popular.

The Secret Life of Peptides: Unrecognized Yet Essential

There are over 7,000 identified kinds of peptides in the human body. While researchers have understood their value since the development of insulin therapy in the 1920s, peptides have been largely unappreciated by the public at large. Most people don’t realize that without peptides, our bodies would be at a standstill. That is because many of the compounds that create action in the body — including enzymes that catalyze reactions, hormones that regulate physiology and behavior, or neurotransmitters that relay nerve impulses— are peptides! For example, the antioxidant enzyme glutathione, the “love” hormone oxytocin, and the feel-good neurotransmitter dopamine are all peptides. So powerful are peptides that they can even direct stem cells to differentiate into specific tissues.  

Plant Peptides: The Future of Peptides

Peptides are most famously found in animal protein such as meat, milk, and eggs. Collagen peptide, for example, typically comes from the hides and connective tissue of cows. If that doesn’t exactly sound appealing to you, you’re not alone.  Health-conscious consumers are on the hunt for a vegan alternative to collagen peptides (often referred to as “vegan collagen peptides”) that can provide the same benefits as collagen peptides, such as protecting skin infrastructure and reinforcing joint health While collagen peptides will never be available from a vegan source, the new science on plant peptides is showing that they can be equally or even more powerful than their animal-derived counterparts. 

Peptides are naturally found in plant-based foods such as soybeans, chickpeas, lentils, peas, rice, oats, wheat, flaxseed, and hemp seed. They can be produced in plants’ seeds, roots, stems, flowers, or fruits and sometimes play a role in a plant’s defense system. Quinoa, legumes, algae, seaweeds, nuts, hemp and rice are just a few of the many plant-based foods considered to be promising sources for bioactive vegan protein peptides.

Many people are turning to a plant-based diet because of the multiple benefits it confers on heart, brain, liver, and kidney health; blood sugar control; and many other areas of health. In fact, a plant-based diet is so healthful, it has been linked to lower all-cause mortality — meaning that your risk of dying of from any cause is lower if you consistently eat a plant-based diet. So it’s not surprising that the surging interest in plant-based foods extends to plant-based protein and plant peptides. 

Protein Efficacy: It’s All About Peptides

Protein is essential for multiple aspects of human health. It is necessary for the growth and maintenance of tissues, the activation of biochemical reactions, intercellular communication, the structural integrity of the body, pH balance, fluid balance, antibody formation, nutrient transport and storage, and energy production. But what it is that makes protein efficacious? The peptide configuration!

Those 7,000 peptides in the body all have different targeted actions on our physiology. What determines peptides’ effects are the unique sequences of amino acids they contain. Just a slight change in a peptide’s configuration can completely alter how it behaves in the body. And that’s where the science of plant peptides gets really exciting. Because while the efficacy of animal proteins is well established, there is a diversity of peptides in the plant kingdom that is far greater than what is available on the animal side. That means there is a whole world of unlimited plant peptide potential that science is just beginning to explore.

Plant Peptides and Health: How Next-Generation Plant Protein Molecules Are Changing Health

The study of peptides is a new, groundbreaking field, and plant peptides are positioned to make significant contributions to numerous areas of health and beauty, including:

  1. Healthy aging
  2. Weight management
  3. Cardiovascular health
  4. Blood sugar balance
  5. Joint health
  6. Skin health
  7. Gut health
  8. Food and environmental sensitivities
  9. Antioxidant protection
  10. Immune defense

You can learn more about the exciting research that has already been conducted in these areas by checking out The 10 Benefits of Plant Peptides. Read it before deciding whether to purchase a collagen peptide supplement.

References

Trending now
Plant Peptides 101 – Beyond Collagen Peptides
Benefits of Plant Peptides
10 Benefits of Plant Peptides
plant versus animal protein
Plant Protein v. Animal Protein
plant peptides optimal health
Plant Peptides and Health: How Plant Peptides Unlock Optimal Health