Study Claims Plant-Based Diets Aren’t Nutritious If They’re Ultra-Processed – Experts Disagree

A recent study from France suggests that plant-based diets high in ultra-processed foods may not provide the same benefits for heart health as minimally processed, meat-rich diets. However, experts are warning that this study is highly misleading, as it lumps all plant-based ultra-processed foods together without considering important nuances.

The study found that diets rich in nutritious plant-based foods low in sugar, salt, and fat had a lower risk of cardiovascular disease compared to diets high in animal products and low in plant-based foods. However, the researchers grouped all plant-based ultra-processed foods together without considering that plant-based meat alternatives have a different nutritional profile from other ultra-processed foods. Studies have shown that plant-based meat can have health benefits such as reducing LDL cholesterol and supporting weight management. Experts are emphasizing the importance of considering the quality and degree of processing of plant-based foods in health discourse rather than painting all plant-based ultra-processed foods with the same brush.