Home/Blog/All/Plant-based meat alternatives: the good, the bad and the ugly
Blog
Featured Fitness Gut Health Immunity Lifestyle Nutrition Recipes Science

Plant-based everything has become very popular. Many people are becoming vegetarians or vegans, and conflicting research about animal products and health is making adopting this lifestyle easier. Understandably, we are finding alternatives to make adopting this lifestyle easier. The most recent (and intriguing) addition to the plant-based world is plant-based meat alternatives. Today, we are going to dive into what plant-based meats are: the good, the bad, and the ugly of it all.Plant Based Meat alternatives with a hamburger

What are plant-based meats?

Plant-based meats were created to offer a little more variety in the vegan and vegetarian diet and help with the environmental issues associated with animal farming. They give the texture and flavor that vegans and vegetarians may miss from their old diet. 

Plant-based meats come in different varieties and are made with different ingredients. Some of the most commonly used plant-based meats are:

  • Soy products (tofu, tempeh, soybeans, and soy-based meat alternatives) 
  • Jackfruit — a tropical fruit with a consistency that allows for foods like pulled pork
  • Seitan — uses vital wheat gluten to get the right texture, and flavorings are added to get the right taste of whatever “meat” they are making, this one should be avoided for gluten sensitivities or intolerances
  • Beyond Meat — started as Beyond Burger but has added more meats to its menu. For the burger, they use pea protein, rice protein, and some other ingredients to get the right color, flavor, and texture. They do not use gluten or soy for those who have sensitivities to these ingredients. 
  • Impossible Foods — again, the burger is the most well-known option on their menu with Burger King bringing in the Impossible Whopper. Impossible Foods offers many plant-based meats. Impossible burgers are made using potato, soy proteins, and other ingredients to add nutrition, texture, and flavor to their meatless meats.

So now that you know a few of the options and what exactly plant-based meat alternatives are, let’s take a look at some other things. Are plant-based meat alternatives healthy?

What is good about plant-based meats?

Plant-based has become a sort of buzzword. It can have negative or positive connotations depending on the person. However, there is no denying that getting more plant-based foods into your diet is a good thing.

Foods from plants contain high amounts of health-boosting compounds, like:

All of these things make plant-based anything good for your health including your gut microbiome.

Plant-based products are also (generally) much lower in saturated fats than their animal-sourced counterparts. This may not necessarily be the case for plant-based meats because of added ingredients. So it is always best to check the packaging and Nutritional Facts to make sure you know what you are consuming — more on this later.

While some plant products do contain fat, like avocados, olives, nuts, and seeds some plant-based foods don’t contain much fat at all. If you’re strictly on vegan/vegetarian diets this is something that you need to keep an eye on to ensure you’re getting enough fats to support your brain health. However, studies have shown that plant-derived fats are healthier for the heart than animal-derived fats. 

Either way, this is some information to keep in mind if you’re looking to swap your diet from animal-consuming to vegan or vegetarian.

What is bad about plant-based meats?

As you can see based on our list above, not all plant-based meats are made with the same ingredients. While this is good for variety, it can leave out some essential nutrients that your body needs to remain healthy. 

Plant-based diets in general are known for a lower-than-necessary intake of protein. But when you feel like you’re eating a burger, chicken, or sausage you may not realize how much (or how little) protein you’re really eating. You feel like because you’ve eaten that thing that you’ve always known to contain protein, you’ve gotten the same amount of it, but this isn’t the case.

Also, with plant-based meat alternatives, you’ll need to keep an eye on other ingredients. Make sure you are reading the ingredients and Nutritional Facts sections on the packaging to see what you’re actually consuming. Some plant-based meat alternatives actually contain too much sodium or other ingredients that you may not want to eat like modified cornstarch, dextrose, or sugars.

We have a tendency to see plant-based and assume that it is organic, all-natural, and good for us, but this isn’t necessarily the case. 

What is ugly about plant-based meats?

Plant-based diets are often very high in fiber and FODMAPs. If you’re switching to a plant-based diet but have a hard time digesting fibers, you may experience an increase in bowel movements and digestive discomfort. 

People who have IBS may be sensitive to plant-based diets because of the higher fiber and FODMAPs. This can make it extra difficult to get the necessary nutrition for good health while combating IBS symptoms. 

Increasing your fiber is a good thing on a general basis, but for those who struggle to digest it already, this may not be the best option for you. Bowel movements will become more frequent while more gas, bloating, and abdominal cramping can increase as well. 

Should I eat plant-based meats?

Just like with anything else, plant-based meats should be fine on a moderate basis. If you want to switch out some of your normal meats to plant-based for more fiber or less fats that is fine. 

However, if you’re looking to make a major dietary switch, you should do this only under the close supervision of your doctor. This way they can keep an eye on important nutrient levels to avoid malnutrition. 

They can also suggest good foods and foods to avoid for specific conditions. For example, if you are switching to vegan or vegetarian diets, plant-based meats can be a good alternative as long as you pay attention to the ingredients and nutritional facts. 

Everything in moderation is the best approach. So, include both regular meat and plant-based meat in your diet, and you’ll be good to go. 

Resources:

Share
Tweet
Pin
Email
0 Shares