Plant-based meats were found to have no better effect on heart health than animal-based meats.
Previous studies have found that plant-based diets are good for heart health because they contain vitamins, fiber and antioxidants. However, it was revealed that plant-based meats, which mimic animal meats in taste, smell and structure and are generally consumed by vegetarian-vegan diets, are not good for the heart.
In a new study conducted by scientists from the National University of Singapore, 89 Singaporeans at high risk of type 2 diabetes were divided into two groups. For 8 weeks, one group continued to eat animal meat, while the other group consumed plant alternatives.
The researchers measured the participants’ cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure before and after the study. No significant changes were observed in the cholesterol levels of either group, while those who ate animal meat had more stable blood sugar. Researchers suggest that this may be due to the carbohydrate-containing additives in plant-based meat products.
High blood sugar can lead to diabetes over time, as well as heart disease by damaging blood vessels and nerves.
In the study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the animal meat group also showed an improvement in blood pressure, but the other group did not.
“While this result may be unexpected for some, it’s not surprising that ultra-processed unhealthy foods were found to provide no benefit compared to animal foods,” Kelsey Costa, a dietitian who was not involved in the study, told Medical News Today.
One of the major issues with the methodology of this study, apart from the limited duration and small sample size, is that the vegetable meat alternatives selected reportedly contain high sodium and reheated seed oils.
Nutritionist Emily Gelsomin of Massachusetts General Hospital also points out that vegan meat alternatives contain high levels of saturated fat and salt:
Diets high in saturated fats have been linked to increased rates of both heart disease and premature mortality, so it’s best to avoid them if you’re all about health.
