AVOID this dietary trend (warning)

It’s almost time to refresh, refocus, and reset our habits.

Because with each new year, people set new resolutions—and look forward to the year ahead.

And while I encourage you to make healthy eating a priority in 2023, there’s a trend I must warn you about.

It’s something that’s growing in popularity. Indeed, there are countless options offered in grocery stores and on restaurant menus…

But new research highlights the weak, worrisome nutritional value of adding those foods to your daily diet…

Devoid of proper nutrition

I’m talking about plant-based foods.

But let’s not mince words here. Increasing your intake of fresh, unprocessed plant-based foods, like veggies and fruit, is always a good idea.

It’s the processed plant-based “foods,” like meat substitutes, that are worrisome.

A team of researchers from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden analyzed 44 different meat substitutes and focused on how eating them may influence one’s health.

Most products were manufactured from soy and pea protein. And, ultimately, research revealed the “foods” contained high levels of phytates.

Why is that bad?

Phytates lessen your body’s ability to absorb key nutrients, like iron, zinc, magnesium, and calcium.

My version of a “plant-based diet”

This isn’t the first time research has emphasized the shortcomings of processed, plant-based foods.

Yet, the mainstream continues to vilify animal-based nutrition (meat).

At the end of the day, no matter where you stand on this matter, the nutrient content of what you’re eating matters most.

And the healthiest diet is always going to be the one that reduces inflammation most effectively.

Real plants—like leafy greens, not “impossible (non-meat) burgers”—help decrease inflammation. So the more you eat, the better.

But my idea of a healthy “plant-based diet” is abundant in both organic, fresh vegetables AND pasture-raised meat, eggs, and dairy.

And that’s because there’s absolutely nothing unhealthy about animal products. On the contrary, processed food is poison, no matter what the package it comes in tells you.

Cheers to a happy and healthy 2023!

Until next week,
Dr. Fred

Source:

“Meat substitutes contain ‘antinutrients’ that inhibit absorption of iron and zinc: ‘The industry needs to think about the nutritional value of these products’.” Nutra Ingredients, 12/14/2022. (nutraingredients.com/article/2022/12/14/meat-substitutes-contain-antinutrients-that-inhibit-absorption-of-iron-and-zinc)