Is "plant-based meat" really healthier?
Plant-based meats are packaged as "eco-friendly," "low-fat," and "clean eating" icons, leading many to believe that eating vegetarian meat equates to better health. However, Dr. Berg warns that marketing claims for these products often ignore scientific evidence. Past studies supporting the claim that "red meat causes cancer" were mostly observational surveys with weak evidence. Subsequent large-scale systematic studies have instead shown no clear direct link between moderate red meat consumption and cardiovascular disease or cancer .
In other words, the real problem may not be the meat itself, but the degree of processing we choose.
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Plant-based meat is more "chemical" in composition than you might think.
Dr. Berger analyzed the recipes of several common plant-based meat brands, citing examples:
- MorningStar : Contains wheat gluten, soy protein, corn oil, rapeseed oil, sunflower seed oil, maltodextrin, and potato starch.
- Beyond Burger : Contains rapeseed oil, modified starch, maltodextrin, and various chemical stabilizers.
- Impossible Burger : It contains genetically modified soy leghemoglobin to mimic the "blood color and aroma" of real meat.
These ingredients, seemingly "plant-derived," are actually highly industrialized seed oils, starches, and chemical additives . After undergoing multiple high-pressure, bleaching, and deodorizing processes, these ingredients have long lost their original nutritional value, leaving only a mixture of artificial fats and carbohydrates.
Fake meat and real meat have up to 171 metabolic differences.
According to metabolomics studies, plant-based meat differs from natural animal meat in 171 metabolic compounds . These differences not only affect protein structure but also amino acid absorption and the utilization of micronutrients such as iron and zinc. In other words, plant-based meat is not a substitute for "meat equivalents" but is closer to "ultra-processed food " —high in calories, low in nutrient density, and may even cause chronic inflammation.
Ultra-processed foods: Health traps hidden in eco-friendly packaging
Dr. Berg points out that while plant-based meat touts itself as "non-killing" and "low-carbon," its chemical processes and use of seed oils are not necessarily more human-friendly or environmentally friendly. Seed oils (such as corn oil, rapeseed oil, and sunflower oil) are rich in Omega-6 fatty acids, and excessive intake can induce insulin resistance and inflammatory responses , which are important sources of modern chronic diseases.
Conclusion: Plant-based meat is not the same as healthy food; real food is the key.
If you eat plant-based meat for 14 consecutive days, you may experience problems such as decreased energy, bloating, indigestion, and insufficient nutrient absorption. Dr. Berger emphasizes that the healthiest dietary principle remains the same— choose real, whole, and unprocessed foods .
Real meat is rich in natural amino acids, B vitamins , and minerals, making it an important source for body repair and immunity; while "fake meat" is simply a product marketed as healthy.
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"Don't let marketing replace science, or let processing replace nature."
This is Dr. Berger's reminder to all consumers: Learning to read ingredient lists is a more effective way to eat healthily than chasing trends.
YouTube source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2-fqygVqCc&list=PLlWQQPXW0GbzIXpSEiG6EUMK0r-iyAYJ8&index=9
YouTube Column: Dr. Berger's Chinese Health Knowledge
