Health Nutrition & Diet The Best Lean Protein Foods to Put on Your Plate—and Why They're So Good for You What foods count as lean protein sources—and what does that even mean? An RD breaks it down. By Christina Manian, RDN Updated on April 19, 2023 Fact checked by Isaac Winter Fact checked by Isaac Winter Isaac Winter is a fact-checker and writer for Real Simple, ensuring the accuracy of content published by rigorously researching content before publication and periodically when content needs to be updated. Highlights: Helped establish a food pantry in West Garfield Park as an AmeriCorps employee at Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center. Interviewed Heartland Alliance employees for oral history project conducted by the Lake Forest College History Department. Editorial Head of Lake Forest College's literary magazine, Tusitala, for two years. Our Fact-Checking Process Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Tetiana Istomina/Getty Images The topic of protein—whether in the context of high protein foods, products, or lifestyles—has been ubiquitously trendy for over a decade at this point. But beyond serving as a longstanding food trend for the health conscious, everyday protein intake is actually super important, as it’s foundational for so many different functions in everyone’s body. With this in mind, the type of protein we consume does matter, as there are lots of protein sources to choose from, each with its own nutritional impact. This is where the concept of lean protein comes into play. You’ve likely heard it’s healthiest to eat “lean protein”—but what does that mean, exactly, and is lean protein the best, most nutritious type of protein to choose? Here’s what to know about this important nutrient source. 13 High-Protein Snack Food Recipes to Boost Your Energy Why Protein Matters When it comes to maintaining optimal health, it’s vital to eat the correct amount and kind of protein for you. As one of the three major macronutrients in the diet, alongside carbohydrates and fats, “protein, in general, is a critical nutrient in helping to support many bodily functions including cell maintenance, muscle building and contraction, repairing tissues, and wound healing,” says Asmita Batajoo, MS, RD. Protein also provides us with energy while leading the charge in the formation of effectively every structure in the body including components of our cells, oxygen-carrying hemoglobin in our blood, organs, hair, skin, nails, and most other tissues you can think of. Each person needs slightly different amounts of protein depending on a variety of factors. While there are calculations you can turn to, the best way to obtain this individualized information is to seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional, like a registered dietitian. (Head here for more on how much protein to eat each day). Plenty of Foods Have Protein, But These Foods Are ‘Complete Proteins’ What Is Lean Protein? So, what is lean protein, exactly, and how does it compare to other protein sources? “According to the United States Department of Agriculture, lean protein sources have less than 10 grams of total fat, 4.5 grams or less from saturated fat, and 95 milligrams of cholesterol or less per 3.5 oz serving,” Batajoo says. Effectively, these options span across various types of protein sources, including lower-fat animal-based proteins and plant-based proteins. Are lean protein foods healthier than other, fattier protein sources? It's complicated. These highlighted nutrients are so important because historically, saturated fat and cholesterol have been pinpointed as nutrients correlated with heart disease due to their negative impact on blood lipid levels, like cholesterol. The research, however, paints a murkier picture. One meta-analysis supported these theories, finding that reduction in saturated fat intake over two years resulted in reduced cardiovascular events. While another did not find a correlation between saturated fat intake and heart disease. Other studies, including this one published in Lipids in Health and Disease, and this systematic review in Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases, found the same lack of connection. There is a similar discourse surrounding dietary cholesterol. More studies continue to unravel the widely accepted claim that cholesterol is linked to cardiac events, which is not supported by evidence. But then (again) there are others that do show a correlation between dietary cholesterol and heart disease. These varying results could be due to a number of extenuating circumstances like participants altering their diets in ways unsupportive of heart health from other angles. It’s also important to acknowledge that “saturated fat” is an umbrella term for the dozens of saturated fatty acids that exist, some of which will benefit blood lipid levels, and some of which will be detrimental. It’s hard to know the exact makeup of saturated fatty acids you’re consuming in any given food as each will be different based on the environment that food was grown in. The bottom line: So what’s the takeaway here? Despite some conflicting evidence, enough research points to a negative association between heart health and both saturated fat and dietary cholesterol that it’s best to prioritize protein options that are as lean as possible, whenever it’s possible to do so. Beyond being low in saturated fat and cholesterol, Batajoo adds that many lean protein sources are also “great sources of iron, zinc and B12, with other sources offering omega-3 fatty acids, beneficial plant chemicals, vitamins, minerals and fiber.” Here are some of the best examples of lean protein you can add to your regular meal rotation. What Happens to Your Body When You Stop Eating Meat? We Asked an RD Healthy Lean Protein Sources 01 of 11 Skinless, White Meat Poultry Caitlin Bensel Whether it’s chicken, turkey, or another type of poultry, the leanest part of the bird will always be the white meat, or the breasts. In terms of leanness, opt for the skinless versions as the skin carries much of the saturated fat content. Even cooking the breast with the skin on and removing it prior to eating will still result in some saturated fat consumption as the fat seeps into the meat during cooking. 02 of 11 Lean Pork (Like Chops and Tenderloin) Caitlin Bensel When it comes to pork, the tenderloin and the chop with little visible fat are the best lean cuts available. Steer clear of pork belly (i.e. bacon) and pork shoulder, if lean protein is the aim—these cuts are some of the fattiest meats you can find across all animal-based products. 03 of 11 White Fish Heami Lee Flaky white fish like cod, sea bass, halibut, and trout are all fantastic lean protein options. Plus, their mild taste and delicate texture lends perfectly to a variety of global dishes and regional cuisines, from Mexican to Indian, Middle Eastern to Asian. 04 of 11 Shellfish Victor Protasio Good news for clam, shrimp, and lobster lovers out there: These healthy seafood options are all low in overall fat content (including saturated fat and cholesterol), qualifying them as ideal lean protein options. Plus, they are a natural source of iodine, a mineral supportive of thyroid health. 05 of 11 Fatty Fish Greg DuPree While this may seem counterintuitive, fatty fish like salmon, tuna, anchovies, and sardines all meet the criteria for lean protein. This is because the fat they do contain is mostly unsaturated fat, which is actually tied to improved heart health, especially the omega-3 fatty acids that all four are incredibly rich in. 06 of 11 Eggs (Especially Egg Whites) JENNIFER CAUSEY Eggs—whole eggs—are very healthy for you. Egg whites are basically pure, fat-free sources of protein and an excellent choice when aiming for lean protein. If we’re getting technical, egg yolks are a classic example of dietary cholesterol sources—that said, the vitamin D (which is so hard to find in the diet) found in eggs is entirely contained in the yolk. Given this balancing act, enjoying whole eggs in moderation is a great option. One way to meld these two health objectives is to make a scramble or an omelet with two or three egg whites and one whole egg or opt to have whole eggs only a few times per week (versus, say, every day). 07 of 11 Yogurt and Low-Fat Dairy Victor Protasio Low-fat dairy, like cottage cheese, yogurt, and milk, are also great lean protein sources. As a fermented food, yogurt has the added bonus of probiotics, which will help to boost the healthy gut bacteria in your microbiome. A healthy gut microbiome means better digestion, immunity, brain health—the list goes on. The 5 Food Pillars of Eating for Gut Health, According to a Registered Dietitian 08 of 11 Tofu and Tempeh Caitlin Bensel Many people only think of animal-based foods when lean protein comes to mind, but plant-based options absolutely meet the criteria—and with added healthy benefits. In fact, generally, you’ll pretty much only find saturated fat and cholesterol in animal-based sources, though there are always some exceptions. Soy-based tofu and tempeh, however, are complete protein sources (like all animal proteins are, but not all plant proteins are) while also offering fiber and plant compounds. 09 of 11 Legumes Victor Protasio Beans, peas, and lentils, otherwise known as legumes, are incredible plant-based lean protein options that will also deliver on fiber, plant compounds, and other vitamins and minerals. Dal, anyone? 10 of 11 Quinoa Victor Protasio Don’t forget that certain grain options are great sources of lean protein. Quinoa is super high in protein and very low in fat. Plus, it’s a complete protein, meaning it provides all nine essential amino acids, which can be tricky to find amongst plant-based protein options. To add extra protein and heartiness to a grain bowl or side dish, opt for quinoa as your grain of choice (or mix some quinoa into rice!). 11 of 11 Lean Red Meat (in Moderation) Grace Elkus Similarly to pork, the tenderloin—where filet mignon comes from—will be the leanest beef option. Otherwise, look for steaks with as little visible white fat as possible. However, go easy with red meat, as excessive intake can contribute to inflammation has ties to chronic disease like heart disease and colon cancer. 40 High-Protein Dinner Ideas Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Real Simple is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts in our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. USDA. What does "lean" and "extra lean" beef mean on a nutrition label? Accessed April 19, 2023. Hooper L, Martin N, Jimoh OF, Kirk C, Foster E, Abdelhamid AS. Reduction in saturated fat intake for cardiovascular disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020;5(5):CD011737. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD011737.pub2 Valk R, Hammill J, Grip J. Saturated fat: villain and bogeyman in the development of cardiovascular disease?. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2022;29(18):2312-2321. doi:10.1093/eurjpc/zwac194 Clifton PM, Keogh JB. A systematic review of the effect of dietary saturated and polyunsaturated fat on heart disease. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2017;27(12):1060-1080. doi:10.1016/j.numecd.2017.10.010 Zhu Y, Bo Y, Liu Y. Dietary total fat, fatty acids intake, and risk of cardiovascular disease: a dose-response meta-analysis of cohort studies. Lipids Health Dis. 2019;18(1):91. doi:10.1186/s12944-019-1035-2 Soliman GA. Dietary cholesterol and the lack of evidence in cardiovascular disease. 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