Is plant-derived artificial meat good for your health?
In recent years, the number of people who have switched
Plant-based burgers: should some be considered'junk food'?
https://theconversation.com/plant-based-burgers-should-some-be-considered-junk-food-163514
'Most of the artificial meats are made primarily from plants, but it's not much different from other super-processed foods,' Hoffman said. Super-processed foods are foods that are high in additives such as salt, sugar, oil, and fat, such as snacks, ice cream, frozen foods, candies, energy bars, and processed meats. “Artificial meats often contain large amounts of the same ingredients as super-processed foods, such as protein isolates, emulsifiers, binders and other additives, and are manufactured using industrial processing methods. Because it is, it can be considered a super-processed food, 'Hoffman said.
It has been pointed out that super-processed foods are associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and other chronic diseases, which is the result of a combination of factors such as low nutritional value, synthetic additives, and lack of fiber. Is believed to be. And eating a super-processed foods will lead to an increase in mortality risk research result and, at the end of chromosomes and eat a super-processed foods telomeres of the shorter research results , but has also been reported, ultra-processed food availability It is said that super-processed foods account for half or more of the calorie intake of people in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada because it is easy and easy to overeat.
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Since plant-derived artificial meat has only appeared in recent years, it is not yet clear whether artificial meat actually has the same health risks as many super-processed foods. However, Hoffman points out that artificial meat contains ingredients that raise concerns.
◆ Soy protein concentrate
Most plant-derived artificial meats use soy protein concentrate as the main protein source, but soy protein concentrate contains nitrite comparable to bacon. Nitrite is often used as a preservative in bacon and sausages, but it has been pointed out that nitrite may be involved in the production of carcinogens in the body, and eating processed meat such as bacon causes the colon. It is also said that the risk of cancer increases. Nitrite is also associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases, including kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, and respiratory illness.
◆ Heme
Heme is a molecule contained in hemoglobin in blood and myoglobin in muscle, and is sometimes used in artificial meat to produce the color and taste peculiar to meat. However, heme reacts with nitrite to produce a more harmful substance called 'Nitrosyl-heme'. It's unclear whether plant-derived artificial meats will react in the same way as other processed meats, but Hoffman said there are concerns about artificial meats that contain heme and nitrite together.
◆ Methyl cellulose
Methyl cellulose is used in many plant-derived artificial meats as a stabilizer and emulsifier to create a meat-like texture. However, experiments with mice have shown that this methylcellulose alters the gut microbiota and increases inflammation. These changes may increase the risk of colon cancer, but the effects in humans are still lacking.
by Ted Eytan
So far, human studies have not provided evidence of a link between eating plant-derived artificial meats and the risk of colorectal cancer or other chronic diseases. Safety tests were also conducted on a new type of heme used in artificial meat, which was done on the heme alone and interacted with nitrite and other additives. It seems that it was different from the actual situation that could be done.
Some who are trying to eat plant-derived artificial meat may think that 'the potential risks of artificial meat can be offset by concerns about the environment and animal welfare.' However, if you are concerned about your health, you can try 'choose meat from animals raised in a more sustainable way' or 'incorporate legumes into your diet to create a high-protein, low-environmental diet.' There is also Hoffman said.
However, there is no evidence that artificial meat has a negative effect on health, so eating artificial meat is not a definite risk. As the artificial meat market is a new field, it is still under research and there is a possibility that artificial meat that has been proven to have no health effects will appear. But Hoffman said, 'If you're thinking of buying one of these products, it's worth checking the ingredient list first and knowing that you risk getting ingredients that aren't much different from super-processed foods. There may be. '
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