Plant-Based Burgers Linked to Depression Risk, New Research Finds
As more people turn to plant-based diets for their health and environmental benefits, the popularity of meat alternatives soars. But a new study raises questions about the potential downsides of these processed foods. While overall the research suggests that plant-based meat alternatives aren’t inherently harmful to vegetarians, some worrying links emerged, including a higher risk of depression and inflammation.
Study Details and Findings
Researchers studied over 3,300 vegetarians, comparing those who consumed plant-based meat alternatives to those who didn’t. The study, which followed participants for an average of 14 years, found that vegetarians who ate these processed foods had:
* A 42% higher risk of depression
* Slightly higher blood pressure
* Increased levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation
* Lower levels of apolipoprotein A, a protein associated with HDL (“good”) cholesterol
However, the study also noted that the overall intake of calories, protein, total fat
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