The findings suggest that when talking about the benefits of protein, from which the protein is derived at least as important as how much protein diasup, said study lead author Dr. Mingyang Song, a researcher at Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
"Plants are a source of protein that is better than the animal," Song said via email.
"If people have to choose between animal products, try to avoid red meats and choose fish or chicken instead," added Song.
Song and fellow researchers enrolled more than 130,000 nurses and health professionals in a study for decades.
Half of the participants received 14 percent of calories from animal protein and at least 4 percent of vegetable protein. At the beginning of the study, the average participant age of 49 years and most are women.
