There are some of us who just love meat, that medium rare steak that you would have during special occasions with your family or friends or that juicy burger you had for lunch. If you’re nodding your head right now already thinking about what to have for dinner, well you should definitely stick around. Even if you don't eat meat, this issue still affects us all and it would be in your best interest to become more aware.
As mentioned in our previous post, plant-based meat has been receiving more and more attention. This type of meat is entirely made out of plants instead of animals and still attain the same taste as regular meat.
A large producer of plant-based meat is Beyond Meat, they produce plant-based meat that can sizzle on the grill, have the same texture as a regular beef patty, and still manage to taste exactly like the real thing.
Are you confused, mesmerized, even shocked? Don't worry, so were we when we first stumbled on this product. Are you wondering how on Earth it's possible to create these meat-like patties?
Beyond Meat makes their meat by applying heating, cooling, and pressure methods that allow plant-proteins to mimic the same structure found in animal proteins. They then add the necessary protein, fats, and minerals, that are of course plant-based.
On their website, Beyond Meat states that they make their burgers out of pea and soy protein, canola oil, coconut oil, and other seasonings. One main reason why most of us stick to eating meat is that it contains the necessary protein that our bodies need. However, Beyond Meat made sure to address this problem and use plants rich in protein in their burger patties.
The best part about their patties is that it contains zero cholesterol, trans fat, and little saturated fat. Their burgers are also Kosher (foods that conform to the Jewish dietary regulations), GMO free, and contain no soy nor gluten. With the Jewish dietary regulations being very similar to those of Muslims, the product's components appeals to various people. [1]
Nutrition-wise, the Beyond Burger compares favorably to ground beef. [2]
Another leading company is Impossible Foods.
Like the Beyond Burger, it's plant-based burger patties are made from plant protein and includes fat from coconut oil. However, what differentiates it from the other is its secret ingredient: Heme. In essence, heme is the compound responsible for giving the meat we normally eat it's distinctive taste and color. Luckily, there’s also a heme protein that can be found in the roots of soy plants, called soy leghemoglobin. To lend that essence to their burger, the scientists at Impossible Foods manufactured a plant-based type of heme extracted from soy roots and grown with the help of yeast. This soy leghemoglobin contributes to the Impossible Burger’s reddish tint and the burger’s meaty flavor. [3]
Keeping in mind that the Impossible Burger contains soy (allergy for some), we decided to create a table that compares the Nutritional value between the Beyond Burger and Impossible Burger. [2]
The main unfortunate aspect of these sustainable burgers is that they contain more sodium than regular beef due to preservation and flavor. While moderate salt intake is healthy, too much sodium can lead to high blood pressure, which increases the risks of heart disease and stroke. [4] As for regular burgers, they contain more cholesterol than both these plant-based burgers, which can raise LDL (low-density lipoprotein) levels and cause heart disease. [5]
Putting the nutritional facts side by side for you, we hope that you'll be able to make the better choice between the two options (Beyond Burger and Impossible Burger) based on your health preferences.
It is important to note that both, plant-based meat and regular meat, are somewhat unhealthy as they are still burgers and should not be a regular food item for anyone. However, when one does decide to enjoy a burger, it's important to keep in mind both the health and environmental benefits of eating a plant-based burger. Check out our next post for more information regarding the role plant-based burgers play in combating climate change.
1 "Beyond Burger™." Beyond Meat - The Future of Protein™. Accessed June 16, 2019. https://www.beyondmeat.com/products/the-beyond-burger/.
2 "These 2 Fake Burgers Taste Remarkably Like the Real Thing." Health.com. Accessed June 16, 2019. https://www.health.com/food/veggie-burger-beyond-burger-impossible-burger.
3 "Can Artificial Meat Save The World?" Popular Science. Accessed June 14, 2019. https://www.popsci.com/article/science/can-artificial-meat-save-world/.
4 Cox, Lauren. "Why Is Too Much Salt Bad for You?" LiveScience. April 12, 2012. Accessed June 16, 2019. https://www.livescience.com/36256-salt-bad-health.html.
5 "LDL: The "Bad" Cholesterol." MedlinePlus. April 18, 2019. Accessed June 16, 2019. https://medlineplus.gov/ldlthebadcholesterol.html.