Fake meat consumers saw a 42.5% spike in sodium intake, while meat-eaters reduced cholesterol and improved blood pressure. Many alternatives rely on salt, saturated fats and additives to mimic meat.
Despite marketing, fake meats do not replicate the benefits of whole-food plant diets (legumes, whole grains, fresh produce) and may contribute to ultra-processed food risks.
Major brands like Meatless Farm and Beyond Meat faced plummeting sales as buyers reject ultra-processed ingredients and false health claims.
Researchers urge manufacturers to improve nutrition (not just taste) and warn consumers to read labels carefully and favor whole foods over processed substitutes.
As plant-based meat alternatives surge in popularity, a recent study challenges the assumption that they offer superior health benefits compared to traditional meat. Researchers found no clear cardiovascular advantage—and even some drawbacks—for those consuming ultra-processed fake meat products.
Researchers from the U.K. and Singapore examined 82 participants at risk for Type 2 diabetes, splitting them into meat-eating and plant-based diet groups for an eight-week trial. The findings, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, raise concerns about the nutritional quality of popular meat alternatives....<<<Read More>>>...