The benefits of fake meat go beyond sustainability

[Lou]

Wired just published this article

EMBRACE A FAKE MEAT FUTURE
FOR ITS LESSER-KNOWN BENEFITS​

"Meat production chews up land and spews out methane by the kiloton, accounting for about two-thirds of all greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. A University of Oxford study recently found that, to keep global warming below 2 degrees this century, we need to be eating 75 percent less beef and 90 percent less pork globally. “Without concentrated change, we really risk exceeding key environmental limits,” Marco Springmann, one of the Oxford researchers, warns me."

"Diets are culturally enshrined, so changing them will be hard. Fake meat can help camouflage that epic transformation as a mere tweak."

Full article here
Embrace a Fake Meat Future for Its Lesser-Known Benefits

 

[Lou]

Wasn't sure where to stick this. but this thread that I started 3 years ago could use some love.

This article from the NYT is about Ethan Brown, the CEO of Beyond Meat.
EVERYThing he says - I agree with. A brother from another mother.

Ethan Brown contends there are several main benefits to consuming plant-based foods instead of animal meat. It leads to fewer greenhouse gas emissions, it consumes fewer natural resources and it is better for human health.​

​

But for Mr. Brown, the founder and chief executive of Beyond Meat, there is a more personal motivator: He would rather not be responsible for the deaths of animals.​

The ‘Hedonistic Altruism’ of Plant-Based Meat (Published 2021)

Ethan Brown, the founder and C.E.O. of Beyond Meat, on his moral and environmental priorities.

www.nytimes.com

 

[PTree15]

Wasn't sure where to stick this. but this thread that I started 3 years ago could use some love.

This article from the NYT is about Ethan Brown, the CEO of Beyond Meat.
EVERYThing he says - I agree with. A brother from another mother.

Ethan Brown contends there are several main benefits to consuming plant-based foods instead of animal meat. It leads to fewer greenhouse gas emissions, it consumes fewer natural resources and it is better for human health.​

​

But for Mr. Brown, the founder and chief executive of Beyond Meat, there is a more personal motivator: He would rather not be responsible for the deaths of animals.​

The ‘Hedonistic Altruism’ of Plant-Based Meat (Published 2021)

Ethan Brown, the founder and C.E.O. of Beyond Meat, on his moral and environmental priorities.

www.nytimes.com

I read that when it came out. I didn't like the headline, but the story was good.

 

[Lou]

Plant-Based Meat Not Associated With Adverse Health Outcomes, Government Report Finds

A new report from the UK government has found that processed plant-based meat alternatives are not associated with adverse health outcomes

plantbasednews.org

 

[LoreD]

Plant-Based Meat Not Associated With Adverse Health Outcomes, Government Report Finds

A new report from the UK government has found that processed plant-based meat alternatives are not associated with adverse health outcomes

plantbasednews.org

Good article. It is like anything else. If you eat a diverse diet you wi!l be healthy.

I don't eat meat alternatives everyday, but I have some Beyond Beef burgers, Meati steaks, veggie burgers, and chik'n nuggets in my freezer right now.

 

[Lou]

It's what I have been saying. it only makes sense.
Instead of all these expensive studies they should just ask me.

 

[Qettesh]

I have to add to this discussion! SO after eating these products for a few months, they ruined my health. In fact I'd say these are worse than actual meat, you better off making your own with beans and oats or whatever natural recipe you find. My health was so bad I was having cardiac arrhythmias almost every day until I took steps to restore it. Just remember, this stuff is highly processed and just because they pump it with vitamins and minerals doesn't make it any better.

 

[Emma JC]

I have to add to this discussion! SO after eating these products for a few months, they ruined my health. In fact I'd say these are worse than actual meat, you better off making your own with beans and oats or whatever natural recipe you find. My health was so bad I was having cardiac arrhythmias almost every day until I took steps to restore it. Just remember, this stuff is highly processed and just because they pump it with vitamins and minerals doesn't make it any better.

can't say I agree with this - it has helped so many people become vegan and helped so many animals and also helped many of us (and/or our spouses stay vegan) - I would happily live on just rice and beans and oats and veggies however I know that would not satisfy my honey and I am not adverse to them myself - we do try to eat WFPB as much as practical and try to be healthy, we do take great advantage of the vegan products out there and balance them with tons of vegetables and fruits and beans and nuts

Emma JC
Find your vegan soulmate or just a friend. www.spiritualmatchmaking.com

 

[Qettesh]

can't say I agree with this - it has helped so many people become vegan and helped so many animals and also helped many of us (and/or our spouses stay vegan) - I would happily live on just rice and beans and oats and veggies however I know that would not satisfy my honey and I am not adverse to them myself - we do try to eat WFPB as much as practical and try to be healthy, we do take great advantage of the vegan products out there and balance them with tons of vegetables and fruits and beans and nuts

Emma JC
Find your vegan soulmate or just a friend. www.spiritualmatchmaking.com

I guess we'll agree to disagree. BTW are these products tested for PFAS?

 

[Lou]

Just remember, this stuff is highly processed and just because they pump it with vitamins and minerals doesn't make it any better.

I don't think that is the issue. In fact, if we are talking about fake meat and not the other processed plant based foods, they are not pumped up with V&M. What make them un-healthy is that they have just as much if not more fat and salt that the foods they are meant to imitate.
However despite the salt and fat content they are probably still more healthy than the original products that also contain carcinogens, toxins and contaminants.
I'm not saying that fake meats are good for you. just that they are not as bad as real meat. if you can be a joyful vegan without them - more power to you. but some people need a little help.

 

[silva]

I have to add to this discussion! SO after eating these products for a few months, they ruined my health. In fact I'd say these are worse than actual meat, you better off making your own with beans and oats or whatever natural recipe you find. My health was so bad I was having cardiac arrhythmias almost every day until I took steps to restore it. Just remember, this stuff is highly processed and just because they pump it with vitamins and minerals doesn't make it any better.

What the heck were you eating? Even the highly processed plant based meats are found to be healthier than animals.

Are Beyond Meat Plant-Based Meat Alternatives Healthy? | NutritionFacts.org

The SWAP-MEAT study puts Beyond Meat products to the test.

nutritionfacts.org

If you are comparing them to whole plant foods I can understand, but that isn't a fair comparison

 

[Chryssie]

I have been eating "fake meats" for years and my health is excellent so I don't get it.

I have to add to this discussion! SO after eating these products for a few months, they ruined my health. In fact I'd say these are worse than actual meat, you better off making your own with beans and oats or whatever natural recipe you find. My health was so bad I was having cardiac arrhythmias almost every day until I took steps to restore it. Just remember, this stuff is highly processed and just because they pump it with vitamins and minerals doesn't make it any better.

 

[LoreD]

I use the processed vegan items as a treat. I had a Beyond burger today, and I probably will have another one in a couple of weeks.

Yesterday I had vegetables, tofu, and peanut sauce on udon noodles. The day before I made a veggie soup with blended creamy cannellini beans. Tomorrow I'm making veggie pasta with a cashew cream sauce.

Ultra processed vegan foods can dangerous if they are your entire diet, but as an occasional item, they are safe.

Joe Cross once said that if our diet is 90% healthy and 10% unhealthy, then our bodies can handle it. When our diets are 10% healthy and 90% unhealthy, then our bodies can't handle it.

Yes, vegans can have crap diets, too.

 

[Tom L.]

I have to add to this discussion! SO after eating these products for a few months, they ruined my health. In fact I'd say these are worse than actual meat, you better off making your own with beans and oats or whatever natural recipe you find. My health was so bad I was having cardiac arrhythmias almost every day until I took steps to restore it. Just remember, this stuff is highly processed and just because they pump it with vitamins and minerals doesn't make it any better.

I'm not a physician, but I have noticed that "fake meats" (which I enjoy frequently) are usually 1) quite high in sodium/salt and (2) often soy-based. I'm thinking it's possible this was why you were having health issues with them, but maybe you should see a doctor in case you have some other health issue going on.

 

[g0rph]

I have to add to this discussion! SO after eating these products for a few months, they ruined my health. In fact I'd say these are worse than actual meat, you better off making your own with beans and oats or whatever natural recipe you find. My health was so bad I was having cardiac arrhythmias almost every day until I took steps to restore it. Just remember, this stuff is highly processed and just because they pump it with vitamins and minerals doesn't make it any better.

What did you do? Replace every meal with fake meat?

Otherwise this makes zero sense.
I eat them 2 or 3 times a week, more if you include soy-based ground beef and then it's every day. But that stuff isn't highly processed.

In fact I ate a rather nice vegan fake meat burger (Hälsan's kök) yesterday...except I made a nice wheat flour batter and deep fried it

Slapped it on a burger bun with a slice of violife cheese, some vegan mayo and chilli sauce and a bit of lettuce from our garden..:YUM!

(Ingredients of burger
Water, soy protein concentrate 18.5%, wheat protein 5.7%, vegetable oils (rapeseed, sunflower) in varying proportions, fried onion (onion, sunflower oil and/or rapeseed oil), corn starch, flavorings, vinegar, stabilizer (methylcellulose), onion powder, salt, yeast extract, malt extract (barley), acidity regulator (potassium hydroxide).

I might do that again for lunch...

 

[Qettesh]

What did you do? Replace every meal with fake meat?

Otherwise this makes zero sense.
I eat them 2 or 3 times a week, more if you include soy-based ground beef and then it's every day. But that stuff isn't highly processed.

In fact I ate a rather nice vegan fake meat burger (Hälsan's kök) yesterday...except I made a nice wheat flour batter and deep fried it

Slapped it on a burger bun with a slice of violife cheese, some vegan mayo and chilli sauce and a bit of lettuce from our garden..:YUM!

(Ingredients of burger
Water, soy protein concentrate 18.5%, wheat protein 5.7%, vegetable oils (rapeseed, sunflower) in varying proportions, fried onion (onion, sunflower oil and/or rapeseed oil), corn starch, flavorings, vinegar, stabilizer (methylcellulose), onion powder, salt, yeast extract, malt extract (barley), acidity regulator (potassium hydroxide).

I might do that again for lunch...

No I didn't replace my meals. I went total bat **** and binged! Yup, that's what I did. So I guess in a way I brought that on myself. STILL, I just don't think they are safe. I am also a bit paranoid as it seems so many of our vegan champions are dying. Well for me, Dr Baxter Montgomery and Dr McDougall. Then Chef AJ has stage 4 lung cancer...yep I'm paranoid.

 

[Qettesh]

I'm not a physician, but I have noticed that "fake meats" (which I enjoy frequently) are usually 1) quite high in sodium/salt and (2) often soy-based. I'm thinking it's possible this was why you were having health issues with them, but maybe you should see a doctor in case you have some other health issue going on.

You're right and no I don't have any underlying issues as of my latest medical exam which was 5 months ago. I am paranoid about dying from some debilitating disease still. I posted something about this in a thread I started about the recent passing of Dr. Baxter Montgomery.

 

[Qettesh]

I have been eating "fake meats" for years and my health is excellent so I don't get it.

I guess this shows how we all are wired different and how critical genetics play a role in our health outcomes.

 

[g0rph]

No I didn't replace my meals. I went total bat **** and binged!

Well then there is your answer!

I guess this shows how we all are wired different and how critical genetics play a role in our health outcomes.

Nope. You answered above.
You have a Beyond burger on a Saturday, you'll be fine.
You have 2 or 3 a day and you'll likely get ill.

 

[silva]

No I didn't replace my meals. I went total bat **** and binged! Yup, that's what I did. So I guess in a way I brought that on myself. STILL, I just don't think they are safe. I am also a bit paranoid as it seems so many of our vegan champions are dying. Well for me, Dr Baxter Montgomery and Dr McDougall. Then Chef AJ has stage 4 lung cancer...yep I'm paranoid.

Dr McDougall had a massive stroke at age 18, it affected him throughout his life.
So many people turn to health conscious WFPB diets because they've had health issues rather than just to prevent them. I believe that's true for all those mentioned.
Dr Greger is truly one to watch!