Here's an interesting paper about the differences:

Plant- and Animal-Based Antioxidants’ Structure, Efficacy, Mechanisms, and Applications: A Review

From the Abstract:



We know we need amino acids. That's where our neurotransmitters come from, for one thing.

But aromatic rings? From Wikipedia: "An aromatic amino acid is an amino acid that includes an aromatic ring. Among the 20 standard amino acids, histidine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, tyrosine, are classified as aromatic."

So four of them have antioxidant action, but no one is loading our food with them. Because they are protein, and that's expensive.

And now I'm reminded of Dr. Ede and how many of her patients improved their mental health by eating more animal products. Maybe that's the kind of thing we should be building our neurotransmitters on.

What if the plant-based aromatic rings create subtly different kinds? That might not work as well?