Is plant-based meat healthier for your heart?

By Stephen Beech via SWNS

Plant-based meat alternatives are healthier for your heart than real meat, according to a major review.

Researchers analyzed the impact of plant-based meat alternatives, or PBMAs, on cardiovascular disease risk factors - such as cholesterol levels and blood pressure.

They found that PBMAs have a more cardioprotective nutritional profile and have been shown to improve cardiovascular risk factors compared to real meat.

The team said that even though there is "substantial variability" in the contents and nutritional profiles of PBMAs, the nutritional profiles tend to reflect a heart-healthy dietary pattern.

The review of available studies directly comparing the impact of plant-based and animal-based meats, published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology , consistently suggests that plant-based alternatives improve cardiovascular risk factors.

Lead author Dr. Matthew Nagra said: "While the plant-based meat market has experienced significant growth in recent years and more and more Canadians are enjoying plant-based burgers, surprisingly little is known about how these meat alternatives may impact health and in particular cardiovascular disease risk.

"Thus, we sought to review the available literature on the topic to identify what is currently known and to provide direction for future research."

The team reviewed research published from 1970 to 2023 on PBMAs, their contents, nutritional profiles, and impact on cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as cholesterol levels and blood pressure.

Their analysis showed that, on average, PBMAs tend to have a more heart-healthy nutritional profile than meat, although the high salt content of some products may be of concern.

PBMAs were also shown to improve some cardiovascular risk factors, including cholesterol levels, in several controlled trials, while PBMAs were not shown to raise blood pressure, despite the high sodium content of some products.

The team said there was a lack of long-term research evaluating how the alternatives may affect the risk of developing a heart attack or stroke.

They were also surprised to find that there is a near complete lack of research on vital wheat gluten, which is the primary protein source incorporated into many popular PBMAs, and cardiovascular risk factors.

Dr. Nagra added: “The lack of research on cardiovascular outcomes as of 2023 is shocking, given that there are randomized controlled trials evaluating risk factors dating back to 1990.

"More detailed research is needed in light of the increasing consumption of PBMAs and our lack of knowledge of how these products impact risk.”

In an accompanying editorial, Professor David Spence said: "What really matters is not the effect of individual components of a diet, nor the effect of diet on cardiovascular risk factors; it is the effect of diet on the actual risk of cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction and stroke.

"Most physicians markedly underestimate the cardiovascular benefit of diet and place far too little emphasis on diet in the management of patients at high risk of cardiovascular events."

Senior author of the review article Professor Ehud Ur of the University of British Columbia , said: "For those looking to reduce their meat intake, especially if it’s red meat, replacing that with PBMAs is likely a heart-healthy choice.

"For those who already limit their meat intake, PBMAs can be incorporated into a healthy dietary pattern as an excellent protein source; however, it may be beneficial to choose options that are lower in saturated fat and sodium if consuming them regularly."

Spence added: "Persons at risk of cardiovascular disease should limit meat intake and avoid egg yolk, so plant-based meat substitutes and egg substitutes are helpful to patients wishing to reduce their cardiovascular risk.

"Their effect on reducing actual cardiovascular risk is undoubtedly much greater than their effect on cardiovascular risk factors."

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