A growing body of research suggests that adopting plant-based meat alternatives can have a positive impact on cardiometabolic health, particularly in managing cholesterol levels.
These substitutes, crafted entirely from plant ingredients, aim to replicate the taste, texture, and appearance of traditional meat products.
A comprehensive review published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition explored how these alternatives affect various dimensions of cardiometabolic health.
Impact on Cholesterol Levels
The findings indicate that swapping meat for plant-based substitutes for as little as eight weeks can lead to a reduction in total cholesterol by about 6%.
Furthermore, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, commonly known as “bad” cholesterol, may decrease by approximately 12% in adults without pre-existing heart issues.
This research suggests that integrating plant-based meat alternatives into one’s diet can be a stepping stone toward a broader plant-based lifestyle.
Nevertheless, the authors stress the importance of conducting long-term studies to unravel the full spectrum of cardiometabolic effects stemming from these meat substitutes.
How Plant-Based Alternatives Affect Cardiometabolic Health
Evidence is emerging that suggests an increase in plant protein consumption, paired with a decrease in animal protein intake, can lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases, including coronary heart disease.
This systematic review underscores the growing movement towards minimizing meat consumption and opting for plant-based options for both health benefits and environmental considerations.
Notably, plant-based meat alternatives are specifically designed to emulate the appealing qualities of traditional meats.
In the analysis, researchers concentrated on random controlled trials (RCTs) to measure the health impact of plant-based substitutes on individuals with no cardiovascular history.
They scrutinized these studies for potential biases across five categories, ultimately incorporating data from eight studies—comprising seven RCTs and involving 369 participants.
The trials compared the health markers of those adhering to plant-based diets with those following traditional meat-heavy diets.
The primary outcomes included total cholesterol levels, LDL cholesterol levels, and body weight.
Mycoprotein’s Role in Cholesterol Control
The review revealed that participants who utilized plant-based alternatives for eight weeks or less experienced a
Source: Medicalnewstoday