The Meat Substitutes Market is On the Rise

Meat substitutes – tofu, vegetable protein, Quorn – were once confined to the margins, but increased environmental awareness in recent years has provoked a surge of interest in green nutrition. And the trend is set to continue.

In the UK, around 2.5 million people now follow a vegan diet, entirely avoiding animal products like meat, fish, eggs, cheese, milk and honey. That’s compared to just half a million in 2016; it seems like only a matter of time before the figure exceeds 3 million.

Whether you’re interested in going full vegan or not, there are many benefits to be gained from swapping out meat in favour of a nutrient-rich alternative. A study in August 2022 found that 28 percent of Brits were cutting down on meat due to the cost of living crisis

Of course, not all meat-free foods are equal. In fact, many products are pretty bad for you owing to their high levels of sodium and MSG. But stick to the right foods – organic greens and nutritious Quorn products low in saturated fat and high in fibre – and you can benefit from improved gut bacteria, improved cholesterol and blood sugar levels and a reduced risk of diabetes.

Even eliminating meat from your diet one day a week can have a positive effect, both on the environment and on your personal health.

Research published in the August 2016 issue of JAMA Internal Medicine, meanwhile, says eating plant-based protein lowers one’s risk of death.

Diet and health data from over 170,000 people was examined to assess the mortality risk in relation to eating plant protein vs animal protein over a period of three decades.

The study highlighted a link between cardiovascular mortality and individuals who consumed higher amounts of animal protein. On the flip side, those who ate mostly plant protein had a lower risk of all-cause mortality.

Although the results give cause for concern, it should be noted that the discrepancy was evident in participants with at least one unhealthy lifestyle factor, be it smoking, obesity or heavy alcohol intake. In other words, eating meat would appear to have a compound effect when poor lifestyle choices are taken into consideration.

According to the aforementioned market study into meat substitutes, soy-based substitutes accounted for the largest market share in 2015.

This is really no surprise when you consider that soy has an amino acid profile rivalled only by steak – minus the surplus calories and artery-clogging cholesterol and fat.

Soybeans are also packed with fibre, minerals, vitamins and valuable plant compounds. If you want to work more soy protein into your diet, tofu, soy milk and edamame are good choices.

While supplements should never replace a balanced diet, plant-based protein powders offer a great way of hitting your daily protein quota. They’re also far easier to digest than animal-based equivalents, and can easily be mixed with soy milk, water or fruit juice.

A few years ago, meat-free protein powders were in limited supply, but that’s no longer the case. Nowadays, you can choose excellent products like Maximum Vibrance

If you’ve got your protein needs covered, but you simply want to consume more greens, then there’s always pHresh Greens or Green Vibrance. With so many supplements available, no wonder the meat-substitute market is growing!

Post updated 9th July 2024