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 .
