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7. Plant-Based Meat- How much is this sustainable food good to consume?

There are many reasons one can want to incorporate meat substitutes into their diet, even if they are not vegan or vegetarian. Eating less meat is not only better for one’s health but also, it’s good for the environment. More and more people are adopting a plant-based lifestyle, making mock meat or plant-based meat widely available due to high demand. Here’s why people are shifting to mock meats or plant-based meat alternatives according to Nutritionist Aakriti Arora.

1. It’s free from the side effects which comes from consuming regular meat. Your average portion of meat is loaded with high cholesterol, carbohydrates, proteins, and saturated animal hormones. On the other hand, plant-based meat is made up of veggies and plant-based proteins, which generally does not come with the aforementioned side effects.

2. Plant-based meat is always a good option for people who enjoy the texture and taste that comes with regular meat but don’t want to indulge in it due to religious, spiritual or conscious reasons.

3. The meat industry is one of the primary contributors to problems such as pollution, food shortages and the emptying of our oceans. It makes much more sense to switch to the more eco-friendly plant-based meats not only for our health but for the betterment of our environment.

But the question arises, are these plant-based meats healthier than their meaty counterparts?

The answer is Yes & No. Plant-based meat is available in namely two versions. The first being the processed plant-based meat and the second, being natural whole food meat alternatives.

The processed plant-based meat available in the market are generally sold frozen, have high amounts of sodium, GMO soy & corn, and many allergens like dairy, soy, egg, corn, and gluten. If you are able to get your hands on plant-based mock meat which has a shorter list of ingredients, then you are good to go. It is more likely that they are not highly processed and are fine for frequent consumption. If not, it might be in your best interest to consume them only once in a while.

Coming to the unprocessed whole foods, there are a variety of plant-based meat alternatives available in the market including soy, green peas, jackfruit, Seitan, beans, legumes, tempeh and mushrooms. All of these, when consumed in an unprocessed manner is very healthy to consume. They provide you with high amounts of protein and fibre all while being low in fat and calories. Many studies have shown that replacing animal meat with plant-based meat can cut down the risk of hypertension, cholesterol, blood pressure, and diabetes. One can easily conclude that, with so many delicious and healthy plant-based options available, going vegan or plant-based is now easier than ever.

If one wants to focus on consuming plant-based meat, my professional advice would be to stick to the whole food unprocessed options as they are not only good for your health but also are sustainable in the long rung. Processed mock meats, though easily available and better in terms of health factors as compared to meat, are generally not good for you in the long run when consumed frequently as they are highly processed and basically comes under the category of fast food.