Fake meat, real results. <\/p>\n
Ultra-processed foods<\/a> tend to get a bad rap, as they have been linked to an increased risk of obesity, heart disease, cancer and Type 2 diabetes.<\/p>\n A recent study even suggested that UPFs have a disturbing amount of microplastics<\/a>, which may be harmful to respiratory, reproductive and mental health.<\/p>\n Looks like some ultra-processed foods could not only help save the planet \u2014 they could also help you trim your waistline. ISO101 \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n But some UPFs could not only help save the planet \u2014 they could also help you trim your waistline.<\/p>\n Plant-based meats<\/a> have declined in popularity in recent years precisely because we know too much about how the sausage \u2014 so to speak \u2014 is made.<\/p>\n \u201cDoctors and dietitians are reluctant to consider alternative proteins when advising patients on nutrition because they view these foods as ultra-processed,\u201d nutrition scientist Roberta Alessandrini told CNN<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cYet, if carefully chosen, these foods can be a valid and helpful way to shift toward more plant-forward diets, which are good for people and the planet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf carefully chosen, these foods can be a valid and helpful way to shift toward more plant-forward diets, which are good for people and the planet,\u201d one nutrition scientist said. beats_ \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n Several popular options, such as the Impossible Burger<\/a> and the Beyond Burger<\/a>, might neatly fit the needs of health-conscious consumers.<\/p>\n \u201cThe conversation needs to significantly change when it comes to ultra-processed foods because they\u2019re never going to go away \u2014 people want easy and convenient food,\u201d Joy Bauer, a registered dietitian who consults for Beyond Meat, told CNN.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to get to a place where we start to rate ultra-processed foods because there are some that are super healthy and can help people move in positive directions within their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n One major issue is that plant-based meats often contain more sodium than their beefy counterparts \u2014 however, that doesn\u2019t take into account how much people tend to salt real meat before eating it.<\/p>\n In a 2020 clinical trial<\/a>, participants spent two months eating high-quality, pasture-raised beef before swapping it for plant-based products from Beyond Meat \u2014 including faux beef, chicken and pork \u2014 for another two months.<\/p>\n One major issue is that plant-based meats often contain more sodium than their beefy counterparts \u2014 however, that doesn\u2019t take into account how much people tend to salt real meat before eating it. Sundry Photography \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n Because they were seasoning the real beef, they consumed the same amount of sodium in both phases of the study \u2014 but here\u2019s the juicy twist.<\/p>\n Nearly everyone dropped 1 to 3 pounds after switching to the plant-based stuff.<\/p>\n