Just in time for Veganuary, a new study from Oxford dispels prejudices against meat alternatives. Pulses and tempeh in particular score high for their health benefits, lower environmental impact and reasonable prices.
January is all about a plant-based diet - after all, it's Veganuary, the global month of action for a vegan lifestyle. But how do meat and dairy alternatives actually perform? A new study by Oxford University provides answers and shows that plant-based alternatives are not only healthier and more sustainable, but often also cheaper. Legumes and tempeh are particularly impressive.
Tempeh, a traditionally fermented product made from whole soybeans, is considered the top meat alternative according to the Oxford study. It is rich in protein and fiber, contains significantly less saturated fat than beef and can reduce the risk of chronic ailments such as heart disease, strokes and cancer. The low environmental impact of tempeh is also impressive: its production causes up to 97 percent less greenhouse gas emissions and requires significantly less water and land than meat production.
But tempeh isn't just healthy and sustainable. It is around 20 percent cheaper than beef and also more affordable than many highly processed meat alternatives. In Austria, Germany and Switzerland, tempeh is also increasingly available in conventional supermarkets, thanks in part to the start-up Better Nature, who has made it its mission to promote tempeh as a healthy and sustainable source of protein.
Although processed foods such as veggie burgers and plant-based dairy alternatives did not do quite as well as unprocessed foods in the study, they still offer numerous benefits. They reduce the risk of chronic diseases and are less harmful to the environment than animal products. They clearly outperform meat, particularly in the health and environmental awareness category, even though they are around ten percent more expensive on average.
The study, which was published in the scientific journal PNAS, draws a clear conclusion: plant-based alternatives are superior in almost all areas. While unprocessed pulses and tempeh scored top marks of up to 82 out of a possible 100 points, beef only scored a meagre 13 points – mainly due to its enormous environmental impact and negative health effects. Even pork and poultry are far behind the plant-based alternatives with 46 to 59 points.
The Oxford study makes it clear that those who opt for plant-based alternatives are not only doing something good for the environment and their own health, but are often also saving money. And Veganuary offers the perfect opportunity to try out tempeh, veggie burgers & other alternatives.
