Beyond Meat Reduces Heart Disease Risk, According to Stanford Study (2024)

Incorporating an average of two servings of plant-based meat alternatives into one’s diet can lead to a reduction in certain cardiovascular risk factors compared to diets that rely on the same amount of animal meat, according to a study conducted by researchers at Stanford Medicine.

This research sheds light on the potential health benefits of substituting traditional red meat with plant-based alternatives, addressing concerns about the nutritional profile of vegan meat. Specifically, the study aimed to explore the impact of these products on cardiovascular health.

Is plant-based meat healthier?

It may seem obvious that a burger patty made of plants is a healthier option than a meat-based burger. However, some vegan meat alternatives, such as Beyond Meat, are considered processed because they are made from food isolates and extracts rather than whole beans and chopped mushrooms.

Beyond Meat Reduces Heart Disease Risk, According to Stanford Study (1)Beyond Meat

Christopher Gardner, PhD, a professor of medicine at the Stanford Prevention Research Center and a longtime vegetarian, is a staunch proponent of eating whole foods, with a particular emphasis on vegetables. As some plant-based meats contain saturated fats and are classified as highly processed foods, Gardner wanted to study how they affect the body compared with red meat.

“There’s been this sort of backlash against these new meat alternatives,” Gardner said in a statement. “The question is, if you’re adding sodium and coconut oil, which is high in saturated fat, and using processed ingredients, is the product still actually healthy?”

To answer this question, Gardner and his team recruited over 30 participants and assigned them to follow two different diets, each for eight weeks. One group consumed at least two daily servings of animal meat, primarily red meat, while the other group consumed at least two daily servings of plant-based meat alternatives.

Beyond Meat Reduces Heart Disease Risk, According to Stanford Study (2)Beyond Meat

The study focused on measuring the levels of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) in the participants’ bodies, a molecule associated with cardiovascular disease risk.

The team took precautions to eliminate bias throughout the study, including working with a third party at Stanford, the Quantitative Sciences Unit, to analyze the data once all participants had finished their 16-week dietary interventions.

Reducing TMAO levels

The results, which were published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and recently presented at the Good Food Conference, highlighted that TMAO levels were lower in participants who consumed plant-based meat.

TMAO is considered an emerging risk factor for cardiovascular disease, although the causal relationship is yet to be definitively established. It’s believed that TMAO levels may increase due to the presence of precursors like carnitine and choline found in red meat.

Beyond Meat Reduces Heart Disease Risk, According to Stanford Study (3)Rawpixel

During the first eight weeks of the study, participants who consumed a red meat-based diet experienced an increase in TMAO levels, while those on the plant-based diet did not. However, when the groups switched diets, participants transitioning from meat to plant-based alternatives saw a decrease in TMAO levels, while those moving from plant-based to meat did not experience an increase in TMAO.

The surprising results led Gardner to speculate that certain gut bacteria responsible for producing TMAO may thrive in individuals with red meat-heavy diets but not in those who avoid meat altogether.

Additional health benefits of vegan meat

Beyond the reduction in TMAO levels, the study also revealed other health benefits associated with plant-based meat. Participants in both groups experienced an average drop of 10 milligrams per deciliter in LDL cholesterol levels, often referred to as “bad” cholesterol. This reduction is not only statistically significant but also clinically significant.

Beyond Meat Reduces Heart Disease Risk, According to Stanford Study (4)Beyond Meat

Furthermore, participants lost an average of two pounds during the plant-based portion of the diet, even though the study was not originally designed as a weight-loss study.

“The modest weight loss observed when participants substituted the plant-based meats in place of the red meats is an unexpected finding since this was not a weight-loss study,” Anthony Crimarco, PhD, the lead author of the study, said in a statement.

“I think this indicates the importance of diet quality. Not all highly processed foods are created equal,” Crimarco added.

While the study was financially supported by Beyond Meat, the company says it had no involvement in the design, execution, or analysis of the research.

This study, despite its relatively small size, provides valuable insights into the potential cardiovascular benefits of incorporating plant-based meat alternatives into one’s diet. While further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore their broader implications, the study contributes to the ongoing discussion about the role of diet in heart health.

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Beyond Meat Reduces Heart Disease Risk, According to Stanford Study (5)

Nicole Axworthy is the News Editor at VegNews and author of the cookbook DIY Vegan.

Beyond Meat Reduces Heart Disease Risk, According to Stanford Study (2024)

FAQs

Beyond Meat Reduces Heart Disease Risk, According to Stanford Study? ›

Incorporating an average of two servings of plant-based meat alternatives into one's diet can lead to a reduction in certain cardiovascular risk factors compared to diets that rely on the same amount of animal meat, according to a study conducted by researchers at Stanford Medicine.

Is Beyond Meat good for your heart? ›

Beyond Crumbles' strong nutritional profile, coupled with its simple and clean ingredient list, earned the product certification by the American Heart Association's Heart-Check program and the American Diabetes Association's Better Choices for Life program,” said Beyond Meat Founder and CEO Ethan Brown.

Do cardiologists recommend a plant-based diet? ›

In fact, a plant-based diet is one of the dietary patterns recommended by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association to improve cardiovascular health.

What is the truth behind Beyond Meat? ›

These plant-based patties might not contain any meat and therefore be better for cows and the environment, but it turns out they're not necessarily good for us. The calorie and fat content is not much different from conventional offerings (still high) – and the sodium content is actually HIGHER.

Does plant-based meat lower some cardiovascular risk factors compared with red meat study finds? ›

Evidence showed that replacing 50 grams (1.8 ounces) of processed meat with plant-based foods on a daily basis lowered cardiovascular disease risk by 25%. Substituting processed meats was associated with a 21% lower risk of death from any cause.

Is Beyond Meat actually healthier? ›

Compared to an 80/20 beef burger, the Beyond Burger has no cholesterol, 35% less total fat, 35% less saturated fat, fewer calories, and no added hormones or antibiotics.

Can I eat Beyond Meat everyday? ›

Data from the article shows that regularly consuming these ultra-processed plant-based meats could potentially lead to higher calorie, fat and salt intake.

Can a plant-based diet unclog arteries? ›

The Lifestyle Heart Trial found that 82% of patients diagnosed with heart disease who followed this plant-based diet program had some level of regression of atherosclerosis and 91% had a reduction in the frequency of angina episodes, whereas 53% of the control group, fed the American Heart Association diet, had ...

What is the best diet for heart disease reversal? ›

Eat plant strong - Eat greens, beans, vibrant colors (fruits and vegetables), whole grains, nuts and seeds. Walk away from the Standard American Diet (SAD) and toward a whole-food, plant-based diet. Plant-Strong Cookbooks: Happy Herbivore, Plant Pure Nation, Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease Cookbook.

Are vegans less likely to get heart disease? ›

Plant-based diets can lower all-cause mortality and lower the risk of ischemic heart disease with reduced IHD-related mortality [3,4].

Why did Beyond Meat fail in China? ›

Beyond Meat cited in their 2019 annual report several issues. Specifically, they experienced a slow demand of product offerings, increased regulatory costs and challenges, and failed to capitalize growth opportunities.

What is beyond meats problem? ›

Beyond Meat's really big problem

For the full year, volume was down 33.9% in the domestic retail segment and 26.9% in domestic food service. Both occurred despite the company charging lower per-pound prices, which should have supported volumes.

What is the healthiest meat alternative? ›

Less processed plant proteins such as tofu, whole grains, legumes, and beans are preferred protein sources compared to more processed soy isolates, textured vegetable protein (TVP), and wheat gluten because the less processed forms retain more of the nutrients and benefits of the original food.

Is Beyond Meat bad for your heart? ›

People who ate plant-based meat products had no significant differences in cardiometabolic health metrics compared to people who ate animal meat, a new study found. Experts say the sodium, saturated fat, and high degree of processing in plant-based meats likely accounts for their impact on heart health.

What is the highest risk meat? ›

Poultry. Raw and undercooked poultry such as chicken, duck and turkey has a high risk of causing food poisoning.

What is the negatives about plant-based meats? ›

Con #1: Plant-based meat can be more heavily processed than animal meat. As some plant-based meat and mock meat products are created to replicate animal meat, they may undergo more processing. This leads to a high content of saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar.

Is plant-based meat heart healthy? ›

The research, involving 89 adults at risk for type 2 diabetes, found no significant heart health benefits of plant-based meat diets over those including animal meat, challenging the notion that these alternatives offer the same health advantages as whole plant-based diets.

Is Beyond Meat unhealthy processed? ›

Swapping meat with Beyond Meat resulted in some impressive health findings, according to one study, including reduced LDL (or “bad”) cholesterol and body weight. But while these plant-based products don't appear to be inherently damaging to our health, they are undeniably ultra-processed.

Is the impossible meat heart healthy? ›

While an Impossible Burger is a good source of fiber, calcium and potassium, and they have zero cholesterol, they are high in saturated fats and sodium, both of which are linked to serious health issues like obesity, heart disease and high blood pressure.

What are the disadvantages of plant-based meat? ›

As some plant-based meat and mock meat products are created to replicate animal meat, they may undergo more processing. This leads to a high content of saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar.

References

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