Want to be a ‘flexitarian’? Add plant-based meat to your diet

Growing concerns about health, environment and food insecurity are promoting a surge towards finding alternatives to red meat. The answer, says experts, lies in plant-based meat.

22 Feb 2020

Eating trends have changed faster in the last two decades than it has in the decades preceding. Growing environmental consciousness has led the surge towards plant-based diets than ever before. But meat lovers are still unwilling to let go of their urge to bite into a juicy burger or well-cooked steak. Enter plant-based ‘meat’, the healthy meat alternative, made up of several different plant ingredients like soy, legumes, potatoes, coconuts, etc., with textures, tastes, and nutrient profiles that mimic the best of meat products. 

Advocates of plant-based meat insist that these offer healthier options than animal meat, with no cholesterol and very little saturated fat. They have more fibre, complex carbohydrates, B vitamins and iron than regular meat. Blind taste tests have shown that diners cannot tell the difference between regular meat and the plant-based alternative. 

But is it healthy? Environmental and health-conscious foodies can relax – plant-based meat alternatives use significantly less percentage of land and water and emit 30-90% less greenhouse gases. Foodborne pathogens and extensive antibiotics are not a concern in plant-based meat alternatives. Unlike regular meat, plant-based meat does not require preservatives to maintain shelf-life. It is a healthy and nutritious option for everyone, regardless of their dietary choices. 
 

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Vegan Healthy Plant-based meat Meat Foodie
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