There is a growing range of plant-based meat products to select from, but how healthy are such products, really? They might be healthier overall than actual meat, but they may also be higher in sugar while lacking a few of the nutrients we get from meat, a latest study has found.

For his or her study, published Wednesday in Nutrition & Dietetics, a team of researchers had a more in-depth have a look at the dietary quality of the plant-based meats available in major supermarkets in Australia as in comparison with actual meat products.

Many individuals who’ve been in search of ways to scale back their meat consumption go for plant-based alternatives, that are essentially created to mimic meat. These products have grown in popularity in recent times. But there’s the query of exactly how healthy they are surely, and in the event that they can provide the nutrients that actual meat provides.

To make clear the matter, the researchers assessed 790 products across various categories resembling burgers, bacon, coated poultry and meat with pastry. Of the products they tested, 132 were plant-based, while 658 were meat. They assessed these using Australia’s Health Star Rating, aspects resembling protein, energy, saturated fat, sodium and total sugars per 100 grams of the product.

Basically, they found that the plant-based meat products had a “healthier dietary profile” than meat, based on The George Institute. As an example, they’d on average lower mean saturated fat and lower sodium as well, while being higher in fiber than meat. The products also had similar protein content.

Nevertheless, the plant-based meat analogs had higher total sugar content. Moreover, each products had a “similar proportion of ultra-processed products,” with the speed being 84% for meat analogs and 89% for meat.

And regarding their nutrient content, only 12.1% of the plant-based meats were fortified with the essential micronutrients — resembling iron and zinc — that folks get from meat.

Overall, it seems that, while the plant-based meats were generally healthier than their meat counterparts, they may additionally include caveats. The study’s lead creator, Maria Shahid of The George Institute, recommends other healthier options resembling “lean unprocessed meats and legumes, beans and falafel.”

“More research is required to know the health impact of those foods,” the authors wrote.

As such, people will want to be a bit warier of just counting on one variety of product for his or her dietary needs.

“(I)t is not so simple as a straight swap — solely counting on meat alternatives as a direct alternative for meat may lead to iron, zinc and B12 deficiencies over time if you happen to aren’t boosting your intake of those essential nutrients from other sources or taking supplements,” Dr. Daisy Cole of the George Institute, considered one of the authors of the present study, said within the institute’s release.

In 2021, as an illustration, a team of researchers also found stark differences in meat and meat alternative products’ dietary content, suggesting that they could be complementary to one another slightly than interchangeable.

“Until we all know more concerning the health impacts of plant-based meat analogs and have recommendations on the way to include them as a part of a healthy balanced food regimen, its best to eat them carefully together with other plant-based proteins resembling bean patties, falafel and tofu, or if you happen to aren’t vegetarian or vegan, unprocessed lean meats and seafood,” Cole said.