The quest to live healthily has been on the rise. People are becoming more aware of diets that can help boost their health and reduce the possibility of lifestyle diseases. One diet that has gained popularity and is considered healthy is plant-based meat alternatives.
Do plant-based meat alternatives only benefit human health? Or will individuals just keep eating without thinking about whether it’s harmful? We’ll look into that in this article.
What Are Plant-Based Meat?
Plant-based meat is also known as a meat substitute. It is made from meat-free ingredients like pulses, peas, or wheat gluten. Plant-based meat can be heavily processed(with no animal product content) but made to feel and taste like traditional meat.
People mostly enjoy eating this type of meat because they believe it’s more healthy than traditional meat. Some people also eat it for environmental reasons. Furthermore, individuals asked to abstain from eating red or processed meat go for plant-based meat.
This is because they believe it is the best way to eat meals they enjoy without going against their health recommendations.
What Are the Health Impacts of Plant-Based Meat?
To find out if PBMAs are better than traditional meat, research was carried out on 89 Singaporeans with heart health who are at risk of type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, the individuals used for the study were people who consumed plant-based meat alternatives and traditional meat.
However, before the research was done, half of the Singaporeans were asked to eat plant-based meats, while the remaining half were asked to eat traditional beef.
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This research was done to find out if PBMAs are truly heart-healthier than traditional meat. After eight weeks of research, the researchers ran tests for bad cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, and some other indicators. According to the research, both diets increased blood sugar, and none of them changed cholesterol profiles.
Although none of the diets improved heart health, it was noticed that those who seemingly managed their blood sugar levels better were those who fed on traditional meat. Also, those who had a bit of improvement in their blood pressure were those who maintained the animal-based meat diet and not those who had plant-based meat alternatives.
Another study done in 2021 showed that people who consumed PBMAs were low in iron, vitamin B12, and protein quality. However, they were high in calcium, sodium, and fat, and this group ate more fiber than those who consumed traditional meat.
Nutritional Composition of Plant-Based Meat and Traditional Meat
As earlier said, plant-based meat is low in certain nutrients like iron, protein, etc., but it is higher in potassium, calcium, and sodium. Traditional meat is high in protein. Also, people who eat traditional meat control their blood sugar better, and this is because of the amount of protein they consume and their low-carb intake.
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Furthermore, the research on the Singaporean group didn’t include a test for protein consumption; however, other studies mentioned that plant-based meat affects gut and insulin responses.
This is because the protein in the diet can’t be absorbed easily. Because plant-based meat doesn’t offer better heart health than traditional meat, eliminating it completely is difficult.
This is because they’ve become the most sought-after meal, and this trend doesn’t look like it’s ending soon. It is very important to note that eating plant-based meat constantly or even making it part of your diet can negatively affect your blood sugar control.
Consuming Whole Food Options Are Better Than PBMA’s
So far, there hasn’t been concrete evidence showing that PBMAs are better than traditional meat. Instead, they are known for increasing blood sugar levels, which isn’t good for one’s health.
Dietitian Haley Bishoff advised, “I encourage minimal consumption of processed foods in general, which include some plant-based meat alternatives and animal meats like sausage, hot dogs, and ham.”
After the research was concluded, one of the researchers, Costa, said, “This research highlights the importance of understanding that not all plant-based diets are created equal.” She added, “While choosing more plant-based options can have health benefits, it is important to focus on whole, minimally processed foods rather than relying solely on ultra-processed alternatives.”
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