The American fast-food chain KFC will test meatless nuggets. Twitter @kfcc
Whether for environmental, ethical, economic or health reasons, plant-based food has more and more followers.
Plant proteins are taking up more and more space on grocery shelves, so much so that in 2021, sales of plant protein products increased twice as much as sales of all other categories combined.
Sccording to a 2018 Dalhousie University study, 6.4 million Canadians eat a diet that limits or eliminates meat.In addition, a recent Deloitte survey reveals that 44% of consumers surveyed say they have tried to eat less meat over the past year.écolored and that 72% report an increase in purchases of meat alternatives.».
Indeed, on find more and more'vegetarian alternatives or vegetaliennes to meat products, such as mock minced meat, deli meats and chicken. California-based company Beyond Meat demonstrated mass-marketing of plant-based protein a few years ago with its fake ground beef, and more recently with fake chicken. In addition to the animal protein vs vegetable protein debate, we have the right to ask ourselves the question of whether these alternatives are really better for your health.a sante.
What are the health benefits of a vegetarian/vegan diet??
A diet based on plant-based foods has health benefits. It is generally higher in fiber and lower in saturated fat and cholesterol than a diet that includes more animal products. A diet rich in plants can help prevent the development of certain diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer,Type 2 diabetes, overweight and obesity.
Are vegetarian/vegan alternatives good for your health??
Choose vegetarian alternatives/vegetaliennes is not nenecessarily better for healthethate to choose a meat-based diet.
Indeed, the list of'engineereThe ingredients of these plant-based alternatives are often longer and may contain additives, flavorings and colorings as well as higher amounts of sodium, sugars and fats. These vegetarian products/vegetalians canealso contain less proteineless than meat products. However, meat alternatives may provide more fibre, thanks to to the presense of protectioneines vegetales.
It is therefore important to carefully read the list of'engineeredients and veCheck the Nutrition Facts table to make a choiceecleare.The mere fact that a product is identified as vegetarian oru «vegang» doesn't mean it's healthier.
VegeControlling your diet therefore has health benefitse, but not if'we regularly opt forhighly processed alternativesees, often saltier, fattier and sweeter than meat products.
If you want to reduce your meat consumption, it iseferable to turn more often to products with little or no processing, by opting for proteines vegetales, such as nuts, seeds, legummies (e.g. white beans, chickpeas, lentils), textured vegetable protein (TVP), tofu, edamame, seitan (not for celiacs or gluten intolerants) and tempeh, in order to benotebenefit from the advantages of'a vegetarian diet or vegetalian.
And what revolution can we expect in the not so distant future??
Have you ever heard of cellular agriculture Several billions of dollars have already been invested in research projects related to plant proteins, towards what seems like a beautiful blend of agriculture and medicine. In Canada, 13 research projects are already underway, and companies estimate that by 2040-2050, approximately 60% of the protein market should come from cellular agriculture..
What alternatives to meat?• Credits: TEK IMAGE - Getty
As Sylvain Charlebois, Senior Director of the Agrifood Analytical Sciences Laboratory at Dalhousie University, puts it:
« cellular agriculture that eliminates animal exploitation has the potential to change the way we feed the 9 billion people we will have on the planet by 2050. Tailor-made foods, complemented by better-orchestrated production, sheltered from climatic scourges, offering more stable prices are coming within our reach.»
Imagine milk, beef, all without cows, eggs and chicken, without hens!!
There will be disputes, disagreements and discussions. This will not be unanimous, on the one hand for producers of beef, milk and eggs, as well as among purists. But, it must come to light that science will bring us solutions where not long ago we would not even have imagined finding them!
References
- https://www.lapresse.ca/debats/opinions/2022-02-10/proteines/une-troisieme-revolution-a-nos-portes.php
- https://nutrition.umontreal.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/45/2019/11/Viens-manger_v%C3%A9g%C3%A9tarisme.pdf
- https://www.statcan.gc.ca/eng/help/collection#a7
- https://www.dal.ca/faculty/management/news-events/news/2018/10/30/release__new_dalhousie_study_finds_that_6_4_million_canadians_limit_the_amount_of_meat_they_eat__and_number_will_likely_grow.html
- https://www2.deloitte.com/ca/en/pages/consumer-business/articles/future-of-food-a-canadian-perspective.html