While we all know that plant-based foods are packed with heart-healthy benefits, including vitamins and antioxidants, animal foods are often thought to contribute to high cholesterol. Research has found that simply replacing your burger with vegetables can help. Options may be a waste of time. PBMA (Plant-Based Meat Alternatives) are becoming a “growing” part of our diets, but when served as ultra-processed dishes they can actually be worse for you than meat. There is a possibility.
How was the latest study conducted?
Participants in the Singapore study were asked to eat meat or plant-based alternatives, such as veggie burgers, as part of their diet for eight weeks. Baseline measurements were taken, including cholesterol levels and blood pressure measurements. We then analyzed the data to determine if there were any statistical differences in carnivores compared to plant-based subjects, focusing on heart health and risk factors for his type 2 diabetes. .
Meat and plant-based meat substitutes: Results.
Perhaps surprisingly, there was no significant difference in cholesterol profiles between meat and plant-based diets. However, blood sugar levels in meat eaters seemed to be more stable. Blood pressure also improved slightly in carnivores. This may be because meat substitutes have less protein synthesis and are not as easily absorbed as animal foods. Plants are known to contain many health benefits, but the process of adapting plants and shaping them into attractive alternatives such as hamburgers can reduce the plant’s nutrient profile. there is.
Ultra-processed foods, whether they contain meat or not, still appear to have fewer benefits than their whole-food counterparts. This is an issue that food manufacturers will need to address in the long term to satisfy plant-based customers. Plant-based meat alternatives are often high in sodium and oil, just like processed meats, but they’re also high in carbohydrates, which means they’re higher in calories. So while eating more plants is generally a good idea, there’s also other research that suggests a balanced diet that includes meat is still important for a variety of reasons, including brain health.
What about take-home? Always check the label to make sure you’re not replacing your juicy burger with a plant-based meat alternative that’s actually bad for you.
