She noted that the World Health Organization has classified processed meat (meat, bacon, and sausage) as potentially carcinogenic and red meat (veal, lamb, beef, and pork) as likely carcinogenic because of the processing, compounds in the meat and cooking methods .
“Limiting your consumption of red and processed meat will significantly lower your saturated fat intake,” said Heller.
The sodium in some plant-based meats can be moderate to high, but if most foods are less processed it shouldn’t be a problem, she added.
“All in all, eating more plants and fewer animals is good for your health and the health of the planet,” said Heller.
But “meat alternative” is not an ideal term because it arouses taste expectations.
“While some plant-based ‘meats’ come close to the taste and texture of real meat, the idea is that these foods offer a different range of proteins and are not exchanged one-on-one for meat or other animal-based foods.” Heller explained.
For those looking for a more plant-based diet, there are many options, she said.
“Whole foods are best, but there’s plenty of scope to include plant-based meat, dairy, poultry, and egg alternatives,” advised Heller. “If we eat a balanced and plant-rich diet every day, we should be able to meet our nutritional needs.”
The results were published on June 15 in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
More information
For more information on plant-based nutrition, please contact the Medical Committee for Responsible Medicine.
SOURCES: Lisa Harnack, DrPH, RD, MPH, Professor, Epidemiology and Community Health Department, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis; Samantha Heller MS, RD, CDN, Senior Clinical Nutritionist, NYU Langone Health, New York City; Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, June 15, 2021
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