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  A study indicates that vegan imitation meats may be associated with an increased risk of heart-related fatalities.
  

Individuals aiming to reduce their consumption of meat and dairy products should consider transitioning to beans and peas rather than choosing veggie burgers and plant-based milk alternatives.
University of Oxford
study has found.

When evaluating 24 meat and dairy substitutes, experts examined various aspects such as their effects on health, environmental implications, and financial costs.

They discovered that plant-derived foods like peas, soybeans, and beans excelled the most in all categories assessed.

When compared, processed foods like veggie burgers, soy-based meat substitutes such as tofu and tempeh, along with various plant milks showed less positive impact on the environment and came at a higher price point when contrasted with whole foods. Nonetheless, these options remained more environmentally friendly than their animal-derived counterparts.

At the bottom of the list was lab-grown meat, which has not been approved for human sale in the UK yet.

In the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), scholars from Oxford and University College have published their findings.
London
proposed that substituting all meat and dairy products in high-income nations with alternative options providing equivalent caloric values might reduce premature deaths by approximately 5 percent to 6 percent.

‘The most significant decreases among alternative protein sources were observed in peas at 6.1 percent, followed closely by tempeh, beans, and soybeans ranging from 5.1 percent to 5.7 percent. Veggie burgers and tofu showed reductions between 4 percent and 4.3 percent, with veggie sausages and veggie bacon experiencing declines of 3.5 percent to 3.6 percent,’ they explained.

‘The most significant decreases among dairy substitutes were observed in soybeans at 5.2 percent, with almond milk coming second.’

The majority of alterations in the likelihood of mortality were associated with rises in fiber intake (by 44 percent), beneficial for overall health, trailed by decreases in factors like LDL cholesterol along with enhancements in levels of beneficial fatty acids and potassium.

Research indicates that when all calories derived from meat or dairy products are substituted with alternative options, individuals typically consume less fat and more fiber as part of their diet.

Regarding the climate, experts stated that the livestock industry accounts for most of the greenhouse gases associated with food production and contributes approximately 20 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions.

‘If we do not shift our eating habits towards more plant-based foods, the environmental effects of the food industry might create significant obstacles for attempts to keep global temperature increases under 2 degrees Celsius and could surpass other crucial limits meant to ensure human activities remain within a sustainable range on our stable planet,’ they stated.

They added: “Our research indicates that unprocessed plant-based options like soybeans, peas, and legumes are ideal substitutes for meat and dairy products in high-income regions, performing effectively across all criteria.”

When comparing processed plant-based options like veggie burgers and plant milks to unprocessed ones, they showed fewer climate advantages and higher costs. However, these processed items still provided significant environmental, health, and nutritional perks when contrasted with animal-derived products.

The group determined that opting for legumes instead of meat and dairy products could cut “nutritional imbalances” in wealthy nations such as the UK by 50%, decrease premature mortality—especially from ailments linked to diet—by approximately one-tenth, lessen the ecological footprint of dietary habits by over half, and lower expenses by more than a third.

Dr. Marco Springmann, who headed the study from the Environmental Change Institute at Oxford, stated, “Cutting back on meat and dairy consumption in wealthier nations is crucial for curbing climate change, protecting biodiversity, and enhancing public health.”

‘Ours is a study indicating that various types of food and food items can offer numerous advantages when they substitute for meat and dairy in present dietary habits.’

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