IS FAKE MEAT A HEALTHY CHOICE?

By Mary Parker

CONSUMERS ARE CONSTANTLY BEING BOMBARDED WITH CONFLICTING MESSAGES ABOUT WHAT FOODS ARE HEALTHY CHOICES. MOST OF THESE MESSAGES ARE BASED ON JUNK SCIENCE OR ARE PURELY MARKETING PLOYS. ONE DILEMMA THE CONSUMER FACES TODAY IS WHETHER TO EAT FAKE MEAT PRODUCTS. THEY ARE PLANTBASED, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY ARE ULTRA-PROCESSED, ARTIFICIAL FOOD. A FREQUENTLY REPEATED MANTRA ABOUT EATING HEALTHY IS TO AVOID ULTRAPROCESSED FOOD PRODUCTS. DO FAKE MEATS FALL INTO THIS CATEGORY OF FOODSTUFFS?

WHAT IS IN FAKE MEAT?

Although the exact ingredients of fake meat vary a bit by brand, they all contain the following key ingredients:

Ultra-processed plant proteins

Coconut oil

Fake blood

Added vitamins

Salt

PROCESSED PLANT PROTEINS

Ultra-processed proteins derived from plants are the base ingredient in fake meat. They provide the structure and the texture of the product. Plant proteins are less digestible than animal-derived proteins, a characteristic referred to as "a low-quality protein source." Plant proteins also contain a different profile of amino acids than animal-derived proteins, a characteristic referred to as "an incomplete protein source." Plant proteins derived from grains, such as wheat, are very low in the amino acid lysine. Plant proteins derived from legumes, such as peas, are low in the amino acids methionine, cysteine and tryptophan. Vegans are taught to pair and combine different plant sources of proteins to ensure that they consume all of the necessary amino acids in sufficient quantities, such as pairing corn with beans. None of the fake meats on the market seem to have made any effort to combine different plant sources to produce a complete protein source.

Coconut Oil

The fat content of fake meat is relatively high, and most of this fat is saturated fat derived from coconut oil. Coconut oil is primarily composed of lauric acid, a saturated fat. The conventional wisdom is that all saturated fat is bad for the heart, but one randomized controlled trial found that consuming a moderate amount of coconut oil daily for four weeks did not increase LDL-c (the bad cholesterol), and instead, it increased HDL-c (the good cholesterol) in the blood of healthy volunteers. An overview of the literature published through 2021 concluded that coconut oil most likely had a "neutral" effect on cardiovascular health; namely, it did not increase or decrease people's risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Fake Blood

The key ingredient in fake meats that allows them to simulate the taste of real meat is hemoglobin. The hemoglobin protein binds to iron and carries oxygen through the bloodstream of mammals. The hemoglobin in fake meats is produced by genetically modified yeast. In short, these fake meats taste like real meat because they have been laced with fake blood produced by a GMO organism. This fake blood product does provide iron as well as flavor.

Added Vitamins And Minerals

As an ultra-processed artificial food, fake meat does not naturally contain vitamins. Thus, the manufacturers have opted to add selected vitamins and minerals to the product to improve its nutritional value. However, the vitamins and minerals chosen by most manufacturers are not among the dietary factors that tend to be deficient in populations in developed countries.

Salt

Artificial meat products have a lot of salt added to them to improve their flavor. Each serving of fake meat provides approximately the same amount of salt as eating three servings of potato chips. The American Heart Association recommends eating around 1500 milligrams of sodium per day. A serving of fake meat would provide around one-fifth of the daily allotment of salt. It will cause no harm as long as the salt intake from other foods on that day is not excessive.

WHAT DOES FAKE MEAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE DIET?

Calories, mostly derived from fat (coconut oil)

Incomplete, low-quality protein from plant sources

A lot of salt

Iron

Added vitamins and minerals

A small amount of fiber

The Bottom Line

Artificial meat products should be classified as ultra-processed, fake food products that contribute little to no valuable nutrients to the diet. Like most ultra-processed food products, they provide mostly empty calories. Consuming artificial meats on occasion will probably not cause harm. Frequent consumption of artificial meats will probably promote weight gain and malnutrition.

Facts You Should Know About Shingles & the Shingles Vaccine

By Jay Lang

Shingles is a viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same pathogen that causes chicken pox. Infection causes a rash that can be long lasting and very painful. Early treatment can help to reduce discomfort from the infection, and a vaccine is available to prevent infection. A few facts can help you determine if the shingles vaccine is right for you.

Who Gets Shingles?

If you have had chicken pox in the past, the varicella-zoster virus may be lying dormant in the tissues of your body. Years later, this virus can become active again, causing the infection and resulting in uncomfortable symptoms. People over the age of 50 are more prone to get the infection. If you are taking steroid medications for a period of time, you are more susceptible to shingles infection. People who are under treatment for cancer are more vulnerable. Some immune system diseases can increase your risk of infection.

Symptoms of the Shingles infection may appear as a patch of blisters that wraps around the trunk of the body, usually on just one side. Some people may get the rash on the face, neck, or near the eyes. Itching, tingling and sensitivity to touch may occur at the site. Fatigue, headache and fever can sometimes occur. Other people may never get the rash but experience pain that is often confused with other medical problems. Most people will develop the infection only once, but repeated infection is possible.

Complications From Shingles

Because shingles affects the nerves, severe pain can occur, which may be lasting. If the infection occurs near the eyes, vision loss can result. Pneumonia, hearing loss and brain infection can occur as a result of the infection. Contact with open sores can lead to infection in other people who have not had chicken pox.

Diagnosing Shingles Infection

Your doctor may be able to diagnose the infection based on the appearance of the rash and symptoms of pain. However, if there is a question about the diagnosis, fluid from the blisters may be taken for laboratory examination.

Treatment of Shingles Infection

Although there is no cure for shingles, your healthcare provider can offer a number of medications to relieve itching and discomfort from the infection, as well as to shorten the duration. Your doctor may prescribe topical lotions to relieve itching, antiviral drugs, steroid medications and antidepressants or anticonvulsants to help manage pain.

Preventing Shingles With the Shingles Vaccine

A new vaccine is available to prevent severe shingles infection that will reduce symptoms and shorten the duration of the illness. It is administered in two separate injections. This current vaccine, which offers 90 percent effectiveness against the virus, is an improvement over the older vaccines, which only provided 70 percent effectiveness. This vaccine is available through your physician and from large pharmacies. Individuals who have received the older vaccine given several years ago are not fully protected from the virus and should receive the new vaccine.

Side Effects From the Shingles Vaccine

Most people will only experience soreness in the arm at the site of the injection. However, others may experience fatigue, headache, muscle pain, nausea or stomach pain for 2 to 3 days after injection. You should always notify your physician of any severe reactions from a vaccine. Acquiring a shingles infection is a very real health issue because it can cause severe discomfort and medical complications in some people. Today's safe and effective vaccines are the best way to avoid serious effects from shingles.