Beans & Peas Better Than Veggie Burgers & Plant Milks for Health & the Environment
Friday, 06 December 2024, 10:00 AM MYT
A veggie burger is a plant-based alternative to a traditional meat burger, often made from ingredients like beans, lentils, soy, vegetables, and grains. These burgers aim to mimic the texture and taste of meat burgers but are suitable for vegetarians, vegans, or those reducing meat intake.
Looking to ditch meat and dairy? A new University of Oxford study suggests you should swap them for beans and peas, not veggie burgers or plant milks!
The research found that whole, unprocessed plant foods like peas, beans, and soybeans were the healthiest and most eco-friendly options. Replacing all animal products with these alternatives could reduce premature deaths by 5% to 6%. Peas were the top performer, cutting early death risk by 6.1%!
Processed options like veggie burgers (made from beans, soy, or lentils) and tofu are still better than meat, but they don’t offer the same health or climate benefits as natural plant foods. They’re also more expensive! 
The study also showed that eating more legumes boosts fiber, lowers cholesterol, and improves your diet while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 
Tempeh, a fermented soy product, also ranked well as a healthy, low-cost alternative. On the other hand, lab-grown meat was rated the least favorable due to its high cost, emissions, and health issues.
So, if you’re looking to improve your health and the planet, grab some beans and peas! 