Is Plant Based Meat the Future (and Does it Taste as Good?)

by Sara Banta | Apr 22, 2024 | AHP News, Nutrition

In a recent study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers investigated how diets containing real meat compare to those using plant-based meat alternatives in terms of cardiovascular health and diabetes risk.

The study aimed to determine whether replacing animal meat with plant-based meat analogues (PBMAs) would positively impact heart health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Over the course of 8 weeks, 89 participants were divided into two groups: one group consumed PBMAs while the other group consumed animal meat. The researchers assessed various health indicators including bad cholesterol levels, blood sugar, and blood pressure.

Interestingly, the study revealed that neither diet led to significant changes in cholesterol profiles. However, both diets showed improvements in certain blood sugar markers. Surprisingly, there was no clear advantage of one diet over the other in terms of improving heart health. Nevertheless, among a smaller subset of participants who closely monitored their blood sugar levels, those consuming animal meat appeared to have better management of their blood sugar levels.

All Protein Isn’t Equal

So, let’s break this down. We’re comparing natural, whole foods that provide the exact nutritional ratios and amino acids our bodies are designed to assimilate easily – essentially what nature intended – versus foods that aim to mimic meat using vegan sources like pea protein, soybeans, and inflammatory seed oils.

These meat alternatives are not only packed with mold, oxalates, and sulfur but also contain inflammatory omega-6 linoleic acid. They are incomplete proteins, lacking specific amino acids crucial for building tissues like muscles and tendons. Imagine trying to ride a bicycle with three wheels but missing a handlebar—you can’t do it. It’s the same with amino acids; if you’re missing key amino acids in the right ratios, they can’t be utilized effectively.

Studies that vilify red meat for heart health or diabetes often don’t differentiate between wild animal protein and processed foods like hamburger meat accompanied by buns and fries. Anything processed tends to be harder on the body than unprocessed options. Plant-based meat is heavily processed, unlike minimally processed bison, elk, or lamb meat, which retains all its nutrients including amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.

This study focuses on cardiovascular health and diabetes, aiming to reduce insulin resistance—a key factor in heart disease (in the heart) and diabetes (in the liver). Insulin resistance can stem from various factors like processed foods, excessive sugar, radiation, toxins, xenoestrogens, and stress.

When it comes to food, protein is a crucial macronutrient that can actually help with blood sugar and insulin resistance—but it has to be the right kind of protein, assimilated and absorbed properly by the body. Some of these synthetic and inflammatory ingredients not only won’t be properly absorbed or utilized by the body, but will also trigger inflammation, cause leaky gut, and worsen insulin resistance.

So how do you prevent heart disease and diabetes?

Heart disease is insulin resistance at the heart. 

Diabetes is insulin resistance in the liver. 

The goal is to reduce insulin resistance. 

Protein: The Right Vs. Wrong Types

Protein is crucial for a healthy metabolism and can be a key factor in lowering insulin resistance depending on the source of the protein. Furthermore, it serves as the foundational material for muscles, tissues, organs, hair, nails—essentially everything in the body. Beyond structure, protein plays a significant role in fat metabolism through what’s known as the “Thermic Effect of Food.” This effect describes how different types of calories influence heat production in the body, affecting how many calories are burned.

Interestingly, protein has the highest thermic effect among all macronutrients. Approximately 25 percent of the calories from protein are expended solely through this heat-generating process during digestion. This means that for every 100 calories of protein consumed, about 25 calories are utilized through digestion and the thermic effect.

Moreover, protein provides essential amino acids that are vital for building and maintaining lean, strong muscle tissue. Muscle tissue is metabolically active, containing dense concentrations of mitochondria and ATP (the body’s energy currency). Simply put, having more muscle can enhance fat burning just by existing.

However, it’s important to note that not all proteins are equally effective for fat burning, insulin sensitivity, or muscle building. The quality and source of protein can significantly impact its metabolic effects in the body.

Wrong Proteins

Let’s talk about different protein sources and their potential negative impacts on health.

Whey, Pea, and Soy Protein

These are commonly found in plant-based meat alternatives. Unfortunately, these proteins only utilize about 18% of their essential amino acids for building new proteins, with the remaining 82% being converted into sugar and possibly increasing insulin resistance. Moreover, they can trigger inflammation, increase estrogen levels, contribute to leaky gut, cause high histamine reactions, or even allergies depending on the specific type consumed. Soy, in particular, raises concerns due to its estrogenic properties and GMO content, potentially leading to estrogen dominance and toxicity. Whey, derived from dairy, might provoke inflammation and gut permeability in certain individuals, while pea protein can harbor mold and induce allergic reactions and inflammation.

Chicken, Conventional Beef, Turkey, and Pork

While these meats are animal-based, they often contain high levels of omega-6 inflammatory fats, notably linoleic acid, and amyloid proteins. Linoleic acid is unstable in the body, causing oxidative stress, increased fat storage, reduced ATP production, possibly increased insulin resistance, and various negative effects. Amyloids, which are misfolded protein structures primarily found in bone marrow, don’t break down effectively into usable amino acids for tissue building. Instead, they can accumulate in tissues like the brain, potentially contributing to health issues. Animals raised in crowded conditions may accumulate amyloids in their tissues, which can feed pathogens, reactivate viruses, and lead to gut problems, inflammation, and autoimmunity.

Farm-Raised Fish

Many farmed fish are fed genetically modified corn and soy, which are not natural for fish and are rich in inflammatory omega-6 fats and linoleic acid. This diet can increase fat storage and negatively impact mitochondrial health.

Choosing the right protein sources is crucial for supporting overall health and avoiding potential inflammatory and health risks associated with certain protein choices.

Optimal Protein Sources

Let’s delve into some exciting protein options that can optimize your health, and support insulin sensitivity, and fitness goals.

Wild Animal Proteins

While wild animal proteins may offer a lower usable amino acid percentage (about 32%), they are rich in essential nutrients like B vitamins, iron, magnesium, and potassium crucial for protein synthesis and overall health. When you consume wild animal proteins, your body experiences a “thermic” effect where it burns 25% of the calories consumed during digestion. Moreover, the balanced ratios of amino acids and Omega-3 fatty acids found in wild animal proteins stimulate the release of a hormone called CCK, which helps curb sugar cravings and suppress appetite. Lastly, these proteins help lower insulin resistance and the risk for diabetes or heart disease. Examples of these meats include bison, elk, deer, lamb, cornish game hen, and wild cold-water fish.

These protein choices not only provide essential building blocks for muscle but also offer a range of nutrients that support overall health and metabolism. 

PerfectAminos

This unique supplement is formulated with pure essential amino acids in the exact ratio required for building new proteins. It is a great way to supplement additional protein to your wild animal protein based diet. What makes it exceptional is its 99% utilization rate by the body. Each serving of PerfectAminos is equivalent to 30 grams of whey protein but contains just 2 calories, a stark contrast to the 120 calories found in a typical whey protein serving. PerfectAminos promotes lean muscle growth without the unwanted weight gain from water or fat, making it ideal for achieving “lean bulking.”  Furthermore, it doesn’t break a fast or stimulate insulin to be released, further supporting blood sugar and insulin sensitivity goals.

Whether you’re looking to enhance muscle growth, lower insulin resistance, or optimize your nutritional intake, incorporating PerfectAminos and wild animal proteins into your diet can be highly beneficial.

Top Three Supplements to Reverse Insulin Resistance

Accelerated Fast

Accelerated Fast can transform your body into a fat-burning machine, lower insulin resistance, and improve overall health:

Accelerated Fast triggers ketosis, where the body burns its own fat for fuel, reducing insulin resistance and uric acid levels. Here’s how it works:

  1. Conversion of Liver Fat: The unique ingredients in Accelerated Fast convert saturated liver fat into unsaturated fat, which is easier for the body to burn and use as energy. This accelerates the reduction of liver fat, subsequently reducing insulin resistance and uric acid levels.
  2. Cravings Suppression: Accelerated Fast helps suppress cravings for sugar, fructose, and processed foods—common culprits that increase insulin resistance, fatty liver, uric acid, and fat gain.
  3. Reduction of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation: By reducing oxidative stress and inflammation throughout the body, Accelerated Fast improves insulin sensitivity, making it easier for cells to respond to insulin.
  4. Effective Fat Burning: This supplement teaches the body to efficiently burn its own fat stores while preserving healthy muscle mass.
  5. Increased ATP Production: Accelerated Fast boosts ATP production in the mitochondria (the cell’s energy powerhouses) by up to 10 times more than when consuming sugar. This is particularly noteworthy because processed foods containing fructose can actually decrease ATP levels and drain energy from cells.

By supporting ketosis and providing these additional benefits, Accelerated Fast promotes fat burning, enhances metabolic health, and optimizes cellular energy production for overall wellness.

Accelerated Scalar Copper®

Let’s dive into how copper operates to address insulin resistance, uric acid levels, and obesity through various pathways:

  1. Inhibition of the Polyol Pathway: Copper effectively inhibits the polyol pathway, which converts glucose into sorbitol and fructose. By regulating this pathway, copper helps maintain a balanced level of uric acid, preventing insulin resistance and excess weight gain.
  2. Regulation of Triglycerides and Liver Fat: Copper plays a critical role in regulating triglycerides and liver fat levels. Elevated levels of fatty liver and triglycerides contribute significantly to insulin resistance, making copper essential for metabolic health.
  3. Essential for Fat Metabolism: Copper is vital for fat metabolism, ensuring proper breakdown and utilization of fats in the body.
  4. Improves Fat Cell Metabolism: Adequate levels of copper influence the processing of main metabolic fuels within fat cells, such as fats and sugars. This helps maintain healthy fat cell metabolism, preventing excessive fat accumulation.
  5. Promotion of Fat Burning: Copper actively stimulates mechanisms that enhance fat burning processes in the body, supporting weight management and metabolic efficiency.
  6. Regulation of Iron and Oxidative Stress: Copper also regulates iron levels in the blood, which is crucial for managing oxidative stress. By reducing oxidative stress, copper indirectly contributes to maintaining healthy uric acid levels and overall metabolic balance.

Accelerated Scalar Copper® stands out as a unique liquid copper supplement offering unparalleled absorption—achieving an impressive 100% absorption rate compared to the typical 5-10% absorption rate of other supplements. This innovative formula is crafted using proprietary Scalar technology and enhanced with frequencies designed to boost healing and efficacy, making it a superior choice for maximizing the benefits of copper supplementation.

Acceleradine® Iodine

The accumulation of uric acid can be linked to liver toxic overload. Iodine plays a vital role in supporting liver and blood cleansing, which helps alleviate liver congestion caused by uric acid and insulin resistance. Additionally, iodine contributes to boosting metabolism, enhancing fat oxidation, regulating blood sugar levels, balancing hormones, and promoting cellular hydration. These combined effects are beneficial for reducing elevated insulin resistance and uric acid levels.

Acceleradine® iodine is the only monatomic iodine supplement that is free from radiation and achieves a remarkable 100% absorption rate. Enhanced with scalar frequencies, it facilitates cellular detoxification from toxins and radiation across the body’s 100 trillion cells. Acceleradine® iodine may also assist in repairing DNA damage caused by the Spike Protein, setting it apart from conventional iodine supplements sourced from potentially toxic iodine origins that can add to the body’s toxic burden. This makes Acceleradine® iodine a standout choice for supporting detoxification and overall health.

Additional Supplements to Enhance Results

Accelerated Ancient Salt®

A natural complete salt offers more than just a quick reduction in blood sugar levels. It works by enhancing blood volume, which aids in flushing out toxins, hydrating cells, supporting apoptosis (natural cell death), breaking down fats in the liver, improving digestion, and diluting uric acid. Additionally, salt helps reduce cravings for sugar and processed foods.

Accelerated Ancient Salt® takes the benefits to another level; one of its key benefits is its rich mineral content, providing over 62 essential minerals without plastics, explosives, or other toxins found in most salts. The minerals in Accelerated Ancient Salt® support intracellular hydration—a crucial aspect often overlooked by conventional salts, which are typically stripped of most minerals, leaving behind only sodium and potential microplastic contaminants that can contribute to inflammation.

In summary, Accelerated Ancient Salt® goes beyond basic salt by offering comprehensive support for hydration, detoxification, fat metabolism, digestion, and reducing cravings, thanks to its abundant mineral profile and unique properties. Moreover, it is enhanced with scalar frequencies to help with detoxification further.

Sara Banta’s Accelerated Liver Flush Cleanse

Diabetes often stems from insulin resistance in the liver. The liver plays a crucial role in protein and fat metabolism, thyroid function, and detoxification—all of which are key factors in reversing insulin resistance, fatty liver, and obesity. The supplements included in the Liver Flush Cleanse are designed to soften liver stones and prepare the liver to release these stones, aiding in detoxification and improving insulin sensitivity, fat-burning, and metabolic rate. This comprehensive approach targets liver health to address underlying issues associated with insulin resistance and metabolic disorders.

Sara Banta
Accelerated Health Products | + posts

Sara Banta is a Stanford University Graduate with a Degree in Economics and Psychology, and a certified Natural Supplement Expert & Graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Sara is the Founder of Accelerated Health Products and host of the health & wellness podcast, Accelerated Health Radio.

sara banta blog

Hi, I’m Sara Banta!
I’m a certified natural supplement expert, podcaster, Health Coach, and natural wellness expert. Each week I publish articles on the latest in cutting-edge health supplements and natural health solutions. I also interview leading experts across a wide range of health topics to transform your body, mind & spirit. I’m also the Founder of Accelerated Health Products. Join my mailing list and receive 10% off your first order.

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