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Nutritional Value of Meat Alternatives and Their (Possible) Contribution to Human Health

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition and Public Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 July 2024) | Viewed by 1097

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Health Care, Design and Technology, Nutrition and Dietetics Program, Erasmushogeschool Brussel, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
Interests: nutrition; health; education; movement; plant-based
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Health Care, Design and Technology, Nutrition and Dietetics Program, Erasmushogeschool Brussel, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
Interests: nutrition; health; education; plant-based; sports
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The dynamic landscape of nutrition is in a perpetual state of evolution, prompting exploration into the nutritional value of meat alternatives and their potential impact on human health. These innovative dietary choices have acquired significant attention for their capacity to offer alternatives to traditional meat-centered diets. As we delve into their role in contemporary nutrition, understanding their contribution to individual well-being and their potential positive impact on human health becomes imperative.

A substantial and burgeoning body of research provides compelling evidence that meat alternatives may play a pivotal role in enhancing health and offer promise in contributing to the prevention of prevalent non-communicable diseases (NCDs). To comprehensively reveal the nutritional value of meat alternatives and their potential influence on human health, meticulous examination of their nutritional characteristics is warranted. Existing research has already put the spotlight on the potential positive impact of these alternatives in reducing the risk of NCDs, including cardiovascular diseases and specific types of cancer.

Preliminary findings suggest that meat alternatives can be valuable components of dietary choices aligning with global health recommendations. In contrast to traditional meat-centric diets, these alternatives typically offer lower levels of saturated fats and cholesterol while frequently providing a rich source of essential nutrients and plant-based proteins. However, further research is imperative to better quantify and authenticate the effects of meat alternatives and ensure their accessibility and sustainability for a broader audience.

Consequently, we warmly invite submissions that address the following key questions and themes:

What is the nutritional value of meat alternatives, and how can they positively contribute to human health?

What roles can meat alternatives potentially play in the prevention of non-communicable diseases, and how can their health benefits be maximized and disseminated to a wider population?

We eagerly welcome all contributions that shed light on the nutritional aspects of meat alternatives and their potential contributions to human health.

Dr. Peter Deriemaeker
Dr. Evelien Mertens
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • meat alternatives
  • plant-based
  • sustainability
  • human health
  • health benefits
  • health prevention

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

19 pages, 318 KiB  
Article
Analysis of the Nutritional Composition of Ready-to-Use Meat Alternatives in Belgium
by Evelien Mertens, Peter Deriemaeker and Katrien Van Beneden
Nutrients 2024, 16(11), 1648; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16111648 - 27 May 2024
Viewed by 825
Abstract
Background: The interest in meat alternatives has increased over the years as people embrace more varied food choices because of different reasons. This study aims to analyse the nutritional composition of ready-to-use meat alternatives and compare them with meat (products). Methods: Nutritional composition [...] Read more.
Background: The interest in meat alternatives has increased over the years as people embrace more varied food choices because of different reasons. This study aims to analyse the nutritional composition of ready-to-use meat alternatives and compare them with meat (products). Methods: Nutritional composition values were collected in 2022 of all ready-to-use meat alternatives in Belgian supermarkets, as well as their animal-based counterparts. A one-sample t-test was performed to test the nutritional composition of ready-to-use meat alternatives against norm values, while an independent samples t-test was used to make the comparison with meat. Results: Minced meat and pieces/strips/cubes scored favourably on all norm values. Cheeseburgers/schnitzels, nut/seed burgers and sausages contained more than 10 g/100 g total fat. The saturated fat and salt content was lower than the norm value in each category. Legume burgers/falafel contained less than 10 g/100 g protein. Vegetarian/vegan minced meat and bacon contained fewer calories, total and saturated fat, and more fibre compared to their animal-based counterparts. Conclusions: Minced meat and pieces/strips/cubes came out as the most favourable categories regarding nutritional composition norm values. Vegetarian/vegan steak came out the least favourable compared to steak, while vegetarian/vegan minced meat and vegetarian/vegan bacon came out the most favourable compared to their animal-based counterparts. Full article
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