Buzz
If there’s a meat substitute that can win over meat lovers, it’s plant-based burgers. These vegan creations are designed to cook, taste, and even ‘bleed’ like real beef. They're rapidly gaining popularity, with companies like Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods now found in grocery stores and fast-food chains nationwide. Yet, despite their rise in fame, the nutritional value and core ingredients of these items are still unclear to many. It’s helpful to understand what goes into these meatless protein sources before adding them to your diet.
What Are the Ingredients in Beyond Burgers and Impossible Burgers?
Both Beyond Burgers and Impossible Burgers are crafted by altering plant-based proteins. Beyond Meat uses a process of heating, cooling, and compressing proteins extracted from peas, rice, and beans to form a texture resembling real animal flesh. Plant-based fats and carbohydrates are included for flavor and texture, while beet juice provides the ‘bloody’ appearance.
The key to creating Impossible Burgers lies in a substance called heme. This compound is what enables an animal's blood to transport oxygen to its organs. While plants also use heme, they don't contain nearly as much as animals. When food tastes 'meaty,' heme is usually the main reason behind it. By genetically altering yeast to produce the soy-based heme, Impossible Foods can create this compound on a large scale. Impossible Burgers also include altered proteins from wheat and other flavor-enhancing ingredients, but the soy heme-rich protein (or leghemoglobin) is what truly makes it resemble real meat.
Are Beyond Burgers and Impossible Burgers considered healthy options?
Plant-based burgers are certainly vegan, but there's still some discussion on whether they should be classified as health food. As nutritionist and author Rhiannon Lambert explains, 'Just because something is labeled as plant-based or entirely vegan doesn't automatically make it healthier.' Many of these products may contain added salt, sugar, fats, and lack essential nutrients.
When comparing beef to meat alternatives, it’s important to remember that meat isn't necessarily unhealthy. It provides protein, iron, vitamin B12, and various other nutrients we need for survival. One way to assess the healthiness of plant-based products versus meat is by comparing their vitamin and mineral contents. According to Lambert, 'Nutritionally speaking, meat is very nutritious, offering a wide range of nutrients like vitamins and protein. However, some vegan options now come close to meat in terms of protein and nutrition.'
Another way to evaluate if plant-based burgers are better for you is to look at the ingredients that might already be in excess in your diet. These include sugar, salt, carbohydrates, and fats. Beef is also known for its high cholesterol content, so if you’re trying to reduce that, it's worth noting that Beyond Meat and Impossible Burgers have none. However, both real and plant-based meats contain similar amounts of saturated fat.
Nutritionally, real meat and plant-based alternatives are quite similar, but there’s a notable difference when it comes to salt content: a 4-ounce Beyond Burger patty contains 350 milligrams of sodium, while a 4-ounce Impossible Burger patty has 370 milligrams. In contrast, a raw beef patty could have as little as around 80 milligrams of sodium, depending on the cut. While most people add salt to their meat, the sodium levels in processed plant-based foods can’t be easily controlled.
There are various reasons to opt for the vegan choice at the store that go beyond personal health. These plant-based meat alternatives have a smaller carbon footprint than beef (though still larger than that of unprocessed vegetables and legumes). They might also be appealing to vegans, vegetarians, and flexitarians who avoid animal products for ethical reasons. Regardless of why you’re exploring meatless options, it’s important to do your research beforehand. As nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert points out, 'It really is a case of reading the labels on these plant-based alternatives. Currently, there is no clear winner when it comes to nutritional meat alternatives, as it depends on what aligns with your overall diet and lifestyle.'
