It’s a good day to be a beef lover. If your aim is to build muscle, that is.

Despite the growing popularity of meat alternatives, a new study suggests that meat-based protein is more effective at stimulating muscle growth compared with plant-based alternatives.

Researchers from the University of Arkansas and the University of South Carolina wanted to know if soy-based meat alternatives had the same effect on muscle-building as animal meat.

They split 24 healthy adults between ages 18 and 40 into three groups. One group ate a 4-ounce beef patty, and the second group ate a 4-ounce plant-based patty made from soy protein concentrate. The third group ate two of the 4-ounce soy burgers.

The researchers then measured how efficiently each burger stimulated muscle protein synthesis using traceable molecules in the body. Muscle protein synthesis is a process the body uses to build and repair muscle.

They found that the beef patty stimulated more muscle protein synthesis than the single soy-based burger. Those who ate two soy burgers eventually saw a similar increase in muscle protein synthesis, but they had to consumer 183 more calories to do so.

Both meat-based and soy-based foods are complete proteins, meaning they have all nine amino acids the body needs. However, researchers said muscle uses the amino acids in beef more efficiently since they reach the bloodstream more quickly and at a higher concentration.

Don’t throw out all your plant-based patties just yet. Meat alternatives can still be a viable source of protein for muscle-building. But if your goal is to bulk up those biceps, beef might be your best bet.