Plant-based meats are the ‘methadone’ of meats, says Michael Greger. They enable a transition away from a meat-heavy diet to a plant-rich diet. Speaking at the Animal and Vegan Advocacy Summit in Los Angeles, the esteemed doctor gave an impassioned lecture on the health benefits of eating Ultra-Processed-Foods in the form of plant-based meats. Yes, they are healthier than the meats they are attempting to replace.
Alternative Protein is Healthy
So, let’s look at the evidence. Most importantly, plant-based meats have a better nutrient profile than meat. Swapping out one serving of meat a day for an alternative protein could save 100,000 deaths per day in the USA! The biggest killer in Western countries is heart attacks and strokes, with LDL cholesterol being the biggest factor. Of course, plant-based meats do not contain any cholesterol whereas animal products such as meat, eggs and cheese are the main source in the typical diet.
And when it comes to gut health, alternative meats really shine. They promote a positive change in the gut microbiome, especially those based on fermented plants such as Quorn. TMAO (trimethylamine N-oxide) is a compound in the gut that is linked to an increased risk of heart disease. A Stanford study showed that swapping to alternative proteins caused a drop in TMAO. As for heartburn and indigestion, plant-based meats cut the incidence in half compared to actual meat.
What’s In Your Meat?
Salt intake is a big factor in high blood pressure, and you might think that meat is not a big source. In fact, chicken is routinely injected with saltwater and is the commonest source in adults. Many plant-based meats do have high salt content, but this appears to be the only area where they can be less healthy than meat. In fact, companies such as Beyond Meat are reducing their salt content, although the American taste for salty food continues to influence food manufacturers.
Meat eaters beware! Your food is full of contaminants like salmonella, toxoplasma and other poisons. Studies show that 85% of beef and turkey is contaminated with poop! And 25% contains salmonella. Big Meat tries to fix their unhygienic practices by pumping the animals full of antibiotics. This affects millions of people per year as their infections are unable to be treated with antibiotics.
Plant-Based is Nutrient and Fiber Full
Many health organizations also warn against eating ANY processed meat. Bacon, sausages, and luncheon meats are proven to be a huge risk for cancer. Not the same for those Ultra-Processed-Foods such as plant-based meats. They have a miniscule risk of liver cancer from mold contamination but have been shown to be incredibly healthy compared to meat. They even lengthen the telomeres in your cell DNA, indicating a longer, healthier life.
Plant-based meats are basically vegetable proteins in a package of nutrients and fiber. They increase nutrient and fiber intake, whilst reducing cholesterol, saturated fats and contaminants. In fact, swapping out half of animal products to plant-based alternatives reduces your heart attack risk by 40%. Seven million lives per year could be saved if everyone went plant-based… and billions of animals too.
Thanks to Dr Michael Greger of NutritionFacts.org for permission to write this blog based on his lecture at the AVA Summit.
