Erm, apparently people who eat fake meat are more likely to have this illness

It’s January, so even if you’re not a vegan, there’s a chance you’re trying to make some changes to your diet.

Not only was Christmas full of eating and drinking too much, but with it being Veganuary, there’s no better time than now to focus on your health.

Well, if you’re thinking of changing from eating real meat to fake meat, you might want to have a look into the potential negatives around it, as apparently scientists have found that people who eat fake meat are more likely to have depression.

Researchers at the University of Surrey tested the diets of 3,300 vegetarians and pescatarians. They then tested their blood, and this is when they found that those who ate ultra-processed fake meat suffered from higher levels of the illness compared to the subjects who ate proteins such as eggs, chickpeas, quinoa, and beans.

The study, which was published in the journal “Food Frontiers”, found that those consuming meat alternatives were 42 per cent more likely to have depression.

According to Newsweek, university researchers also found that those eating ultra-processed meat alternatives were more likely to have higher blood pressure, as well as higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in their blood, an inflammatory marker.

However, those in the trial who consumed fake meat were 40 per cent less likely to have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

But, it’s not only ultra-processed fake meat that has potential negatives to it, as some people have been boycotting oat milk due to feeling they were tricked into believing it was a healthy milk alternative.

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They say they have moved away from oat milk after believing it was a wellness product, when researchers had actually found it doesn’t measure up to cows milk nutritionally.

The subject of ultra-processed food also has led to a lot of debate, due to it being linked to a range of negative health outcomes such as heart disease, cancer, and obesity. Although, some experts have said the reason it has these effects is due to the majority of ultra-processed foods being junk food, which tend to have more salt, sugar, and saturated fats in them compared to less processed food.

However, in the University of Surrey’s study, those who ate ultra-processed fake meat did not have significantly higher levels of salt, sugar, and saturated fat in their bodies than those who ate processed proteins.

Talking about the results, Professor Nophar Geifman, the study’s author, said: “The overall findings are reassuring, suggesting that plant-based meat alternatives may be a safe option when they are part of an overall balanced diet.

“However, the potential link between these types of food, inflammation and depression warrants further investigation.”

Professor Anthony Whetton, who was also a co-author of the study, added: “Ultra-processed plant-based meat alternatives can be a useful way for people to transition to a vegetarian diet effectively, and that helps with sustainable agricultural practices.

“Further research, including longitudinal studies and trials with more diverse populations, is necessary to confirm these findings and the relationship between vegetarian foods and mood.”

You can access the study here.