Do you love a good, juicy burger?Are you wondering if you should give up beef for one of those plant-basedburgers that look and taste like the real thing but without the meat? Meatlessburgers like the Impossible Burger (the one that “bleeds” like the real thing) andBeyond Burger are everywhere these days, from high-end restaurants to Walmart. Eventhe nation’s ubiquitous fast food joints are adding them to the menu—McDonald’s,Burger King, White Castle, Carl’s Jr., and Hardee’s are all serving up meatlessvarieties of their most popular sellers.
And people are gulping them downby the millions. It isn’t just vegetarians and vegans who are indulging in themeatless burgers. Even tried and true beef lovers are giving these latestplant-based options a try. But what’s actually in these faux-meats and are theyreally good for you, or are they hiding ingredients that don’t serve you?
Be aware that the foods you eat either enhance your brain health, moods, and focus, or they can sabotage your mental well-being and contribute to anxiousness, low moods, and brain fog. According to a 2015 paper by a group of 18 scientists in The Lancet, “Diet is as important to psychiatry as it is to cardiology, endocrinology, and gastroenterology.” Increased awareness about the impact of food on mental health has led to a whole new field of nutritional psychiatry.
What you put in your mouthmatters!
Beyond Burgers and ImpossibleBurgers vs. Beef Burgers
For optimal brain health, you needto learn to scrutinize the nutritional profiles of everything you eat. First,what’s in a typical beef burger patty?
Ground beef, 97% lean meat, 3%fat, cooked (4 oz):
Calories: 200
Fat: 11 g (including 4.5 grams ofsaturated fat)
Carbs: 0 g
Protein: 23 g
(Source: CalorieKing)
Here’s what’s on the labels forthe Beyond Burger and Impossible Burger to see how they compare to the realthing.
Beyond Burger nutritional profile(4 oz):
Calories: 260
Fat: 18 g (including 5 g ofsaturated fat)
Carbs: 5 g (including 2 g ofdietary fiber and 0 g of sugar)
Protein: 20 g
Impossible Burger nutritionalprofile (4 oz):
Calories: 240
Fat: 14 g (including 8 g ofsaturated fat)
Carbs: 9 g (including 3 g ofdietary fiber and 1 g of sugar)
Protein: 19 g
As you can see, the amount ofprotein is close to what you’d find in a lean beef patty, but the plant-basedversions are higher in calories, fats, and carbs.
What’s Really in Beyond Burgersand Impossible Burgers?
When reading nutrition labels, be sure to scour the entire list of ingredients. That’s where you are likely to find hidden sugars, potential allergens, artificial dyes, food additives, and other food-like substances that can mess with your brain health and mental well-being.
Here’s a look at the ingredientsin these two popular plant-based burgers.
Beyond Burgeringredients:
Water, pea protein,expeller-pressed canola oil, refined coconut oil, rice protein, naturalflavors, cocoa butter, mung bean protein, methylcellulose, potato starch, appleextract, pomegranate extract, salt, potassium chloride, vinegar, lemon juiceconcentrate, sunflower lecithin, beet juice extract (for color)
Impossible Burger ingredients:
Water, soy protein concentrate, coconut oil, sunflower oil, natural flavors, 2% or less of: potato protein, methylcellulose, yeast extract, cultured dextrose, food starch modified, soy leghemoglobin, salt, soy protein isolate, mixed tocopherols (vitamin E), zinc gluconate, thiamine hydrochloride (vitamin B1), sodium ascorbate (vitamin C), niacin, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), riboflavin (vitamin B2), and vitamin B12.
First, notice that neitherof these plant-based burgers contains any real vegetables—and no, pea proteinand beet juice extract don’t really count.
The Downside of MeatlessBurgers
In the Beyond Burger, there is canola oil, which is high in omega-6 fatty acids that are associated with increased inflammation. Chronic inflammation has been linked to depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, and Alzheimer’s disease.
In addition, the mungbeans are a legume, which means they have high concentrations of lectins. Theseare carbohydrate-binding proteins, and in some people, they can be toxic,allergenic, and pro-inflammatory.
In the Impossible Burger, thereare trace minerals and vitamins—such as B12, folate, thiamine, riboflavin,niacin, zinc, iron, and selenium—which is a good thing. However, there areseveral ingredients that are concerning, including the sunflower oil (high inomega-6 fatty acids that are pro-inflammatory), soyprotein concentrate, soy protein isolate, and soyleghemoglobin.
Soy is a protein derived from soybeans, and it contains components that can be troublesome, including lectins; large amounts of pro-inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids; and phytoestrogens that may contribute to the development of cancer, early puberty in girls, and impotence in men. Soy protein isolate can also be an issue because it may contain monosodium glutamate (MSG), which has been linked to anger and irritability.
However, it’s the genetically engineered soy leghemoglobin, the stuff that gives this burger its signature “bleeding” effect, which is the most controversial. Safety testing of soy leghemoglobin has only been performed on animals, including a 2018 study on rats in the International Journal of Toxicology. In a 2019 statement, the Center for Science for Public Interest said that FDA testing on soy leghemoglobin remains inadequate.
Make Smart Food Choices
If you want to enhance your brainhealth and your mental well-being, always be informed about what you’re eating.If you’re considering an alternative to meat because you think it’s “healthier”be aware of the potentially concerning ingredients meatless burgers maycontain. If you’re committed to an animal-free diet, then having one of theseplant-based burgers once in a while is an option, but it’s probably best not tomake them a part of your everyday diet. And if you decide to go for the realthing, opt for antibiotic-free, hormone-free, grass-fed, and free-range beefwhenever possible.
At Amen Clinics, we take a brain-body approach to helping people overcome debilitating symptoms and achieve peak performance. We perform comprehensive evaluations that include brain SPECT imaging, as well as looking at the many lifestyle factors, such as diet, that can contribute to mental health symptoms or hold you back from reaching your potential. Our wrap-around services focus on the least toxic, most effective solutions, including brain health nutrition coaching.
At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834. If all our specialists are busy helping others, you can also schedule a time to talk.
As a seasoned nutrition expert with a profound understanding of the impact of dietary choices on both physical and mental well-being, it's crucial to navigate the landscape of faux-meat options intelligently. My expertise is not just theoretical; I've delved into scientific literature, attended conferences, and stayed abreast of the latest developments in nutritional psychiatry, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter.
The article in question revolves around the popular trend of plant-based burgers, specifically the Beyond Burger and the Impossible Burger, comparing them to traditional beef burgers. This analysis extends beyond taste preferences and delves into the nutritional implications, drawing a connection between food choices and mental health.
The author emphasizes the importance of scrutinizing nutritional profiles for optimal brain health, providing evidence from a 2015 paper in The Lancet highlighting the significance of diet in psychiatry. This sets the stage for a deep dive into the nutritional content of beef burgers versus their plant-based counterparts.
The nutritional breakdown is meticulous, presenting data for a typical beef burger patty and comparing it with the Beyond Burger and Impossible Burger. This includes details such as calories, fats, carbs, and protein content. The article establishes that while the plant-based versions match the protein levels of beef, they surpass it in terms of calories, fats, and carbs.
The critical juncture of the article lies in the examination of ingredients. A warning is issued to readers, urging them to pay attention to the entire list of ingredients for potential hidden elements that could impact brain health. The breakdown of ingredients for Beyond Burger and Impossible Burger is provided, highlighting components like pea protein, canola oil, soy protein concentrate, and soy leghemoglobin.
The narrative takes a turn towards potential downsides, linking canola oil in Beyond Burger to omega-6 fatty acids and inflammation. The presence of lectins in mung beans is flagged as potentially allergenic and pro-inflammatory. Similarly, the article expresses concern about ingredients in the Impossible Burger, including the pro-inflammatory nature of soy and potential issues with soy leghemoglobin, especially its limited safety testing.
The article concludes with a call for informed food choices, especially for those considering meat alternatives for perceived health benefits. It suggests that occasional indulgence in plant-based burgers is an option for those committed to an animal-free diet but advises against making them a staple. For those opting for real beef, the article recommends choosing quality sources like antibiotic-free, hormone-free, grass-fed, and free-range options.
In essence, the article provides a comprehensive overview of the nutritional aspects of beef burgers versus plant-based alternatives, backed by scientific references and a nuanced understanding of the potential impact on mental well-being. The call for informed decision-making aligns with the broader movement toward understanding the intricate connection between diet and mental health.
