Opponents of meat consumption try to convince society that plant products imitating meat are its substitutes, although in terms of nutrients these products do not fit this term in any way. Moreover, plant products are often presented as healthier and better for the planet, although the proponents of these claims do not necessarily want to share arguments to confirm them.
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According to the Polish Meat Association, scientists who published the results of their research in the prestigious Lancet Regional Health tested the theory regarding the health benefits of consuming products imitating meat.
Plant-based meat substitutes are highly processed foods
The research was conducted on a group of 118,000 inhabitants of the British Isles aged 40-69. Scientists from the University of Sao Paulo, Imperial College and the International Agency for Research on Cancer carefully analyzed the subjects' diets and the results of hospital and medical records and death registers collected over the years of their lives.
The food itself – both meat, cereal and plant products and sweets – was divided into two categories: 1 – ultra-processed and 2 – simple. All data were then subjected to detailed analyses, which allowed for the connection of cardiovascular diseases and strokes with the type of food consumed.
"It turned out that in the group of people consuming ultra-processed food, which included, among others, vegan burgers, sausages, vegan cakes and chips, the risk of heart attack and stroke increased by 15 percent," notes ZPM.
According to scientists, one of the reasons for this state of affairs is the high content of various types of improvers and preservatives in this type of food, including salt, fats and sugar.
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Dairy and meat analogues, however, are not so good
Yes for fruit and vegetables, but fresh ones
"Interestingly, among people who consumed vegan meat substitutes every day, the risk of blockage of the heart's blood vessels increased by 7 percent and the risk of death by as much as 15 percent – in contrast to the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, which reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease by about 7 percent." indicates ZPM.
It seems that the meat industry's protests against misleading consumers by producers of plant-based "meat substitutes" have deeper justification than it seemed so far.
“Of course, we are supporters of a varied diet, in which, in addition to high-quality meat, there is always room for healthy vegetables and fruit, which we encourage everyone to do,” the Association emphasizes.
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