In spite of the increasing popularity of meat-based diets, research indicates that going meat-free for a while or as a lifestyle change could pay off with enhancements to your cholesterol profile, improved heart health, and life quality.
Exchanging meat for quality protein also implies you can avoid clogging fats normally present in red meat. While meat offers a considerable amount of protein and other significant minerals and vitamins, numerous meat substitutes exist that can offer similar nutrients.
If you’re thinking of transitioning to a healthy diet but don’t know where to start, our Pembroke pines vitamin store has what you need to transform your dietary lifestyle.
Moreover, the knowledgeable staff at our health food store Pembroke Pines will advise you on how to make healthy dietary choices. Consider these healthy meat substitutes if you’re thinking of cutting back on meat.
Tofu and Tempeh
If you enjoy meat, you might look down on tofu and tempeh, but they’re versatile sources of plant-based protein. Tofu and tempeh are made from soybeans and frequently have a similar consistency as some meats depending on how they’re cooked.
Similar to other fermented foods, tempeh comprises probiotics-a kind of beneficial bacteria that exist in your digestive tract. Besides being one of the best meat alternatives for protein, tempeh’s also high in antioxidants, calcium, and soy isoflavones that might be able to reduce cholesterol levels.
You’ll discover this alternative is delectable and easy to work with. You can marinate or season it and then add it to your preferred vegan dishes when sliced, crumbled, baked, or sautéed. Although its taste is slightly nutty, it takes on the flavor of other ingredients you’re working with.
You can use it even on a burger or breakfast sandwich. Tofu is also a great option since you can use it in a pasta dish, stir-fry, in a salad, by itself, or on a wrap. These alternatives offer endless options, so try them first.
Legumes and Beans
Legumes are seeds or fruits of any plant from the legume family, which includes a wide array of vegetables like peas and beans. The nutrient-packed veggies are some of the best vegan meat alternatives accessible; they not only supply a considerable amount of protein and are rich in micronutrients that might be absent in a vegan diet, for instance, folate and iron.
To maximize the health benefits of legumes, it’s advisable you sprout them before consumption. Sprouting is a process that entails soaking legumes for 8-24 hours, straining them, and permitting them to sit and sprout.
Sprouting helps improve the legumes’ nutrient profile while decreasing the content of antinutrients that could impair the absorption of some minerals. Other benefits of beans include: they’re heart healthy, have low-fat content, they’re protein-packed, and balance blood sugar.
Mushrooms
Revered for their healing properties for years, mushrooms make a very nutritious addition to whichever diet, vegetarian or not. They have low-calorie content but comprise numerous significant nutrients. What’s more impressive is that they’ve been shown to possess antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.
You’ll discover that mushrooms are one of the best meat substitutes for vegetarians since they usually have a meaty and rich flavor that works well in vegetarian-based dishes. Consider adding mushrooms to stews, burgers, pasta dishes, and casseroles to improve your meal’s nutritional value and offer a concentrated dose of flavor to each bite. Some of the benefits you can expect from eating mushrooms include:
- Minerals and Vitamins
Mushrooms comprise germanium-a trace mineral that helps the body use oxygen effectively and prevents the effects of free radicals. Numerous mushrooms are good sources of selenium-an antioxidant as well as niacin, copper, phosphorus, and potassium.
Moreover, mushrooms offer iron, protein, and vitamin C. Remember; you must cook them to obtain their nutritional benefits since they’re indigestible until exposed to heat.
- Dietary Fiber
You’ll discover mushrooms are a good source of soluble beta glucans and insoluble chitin, both of which have a role to play in our health. Insoluble fiber is critical to proper digestion while the soluble type can slow the increase in the body’s blood sugars following a meal. Furthermore, they can help moderate your cholesterol and blood pressure.
Meat is rich in numerous important nutrients that your body requires, for instance, zinc, iron, and B vitamins, which is why appropriate planning is crucial on a vegetarian or vegan diet. Fortunately, these meat alternatives can help fill any nutritional gaps that might arise when you eliminate meat from your diet.
