Micronutrients & recovery
Switching from animal-based foods to novel plant-based meat alternatives (PBMAs) without careful planning leads to significant micronutrient deficiencies (calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, Vitamin B12) and increased intake of public health-sensitive nutrients (saturated fat, sodium, sugar).
If you are replacing meat with plant-based meat alternatives, check the label. You may be missing out on calcium, zinc, and Vitamin B12 while consuming more salt and saturated fat. To maintain nutritional adequacy, prioritize traditional plant sources like beans, nuts, and seeds, and consider supplements if you are vegan.
Diets based on novel plant-based substitutes were below daily requirements for calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc and Vitamin B12 and exceeded the reference diet for saturated fat, sodium and sugar.
Why this rating
The study is a dietary modeling case study using NHANES data, not a randomized controlled trial, limiting causal inference.
Source
Unintended Consequences: Nutritional Impact and Potential Pitfalls of Switching from Animal- to Plant-Based Foods
Rachel Tso et al. · Nutrients · 2021
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