Philosophical Vegan Forum

Most mock meats aren't particularly unhealthy. They're usually low in saturated fat (excepting the recent beyond and impossible burgers), free of dietary cholesterol, lower in methionine and very low in carcinogenic compounds compared to meat. They also tend to be richer sources of minerals, and of course protein which can be satiating and help people with weight loss (which has a huge influence on health for overweight).

People focus on the sodium, but that's not really a big deal. They don't have a bunch of phytonutrients or fiber in them, but those are already things vegan diets have in surplus vs. conventional diets and don't represent nutritional risk that critics could fixate on. The argument tends to be an irrational one about them being unnatural or processed without considering the relevant facts.

brimstoneSalad wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 9:07 pmIf meat = animal suffering and deaths, veggies = roughly neutral, mockmeats = negative animal suffering and death.

True, except one must also consider the environment: long distance shipping (and refrigeration) of excessive packaging, and personal health; it is important for vegans to look healthy and be healthy.

Tackling animal agriculture is considering the environment. Shipping is only a small part of embodied energy even if refrigerated or frozen (those containers are well insulated). The packaging on some products is unfortunate, but again very unlikely that it overcomes the environmental benefit.

I doubt there's any visible health difference between a vegan eating mockmeats or not. If anything, the higher protein consumption may make the vegan eating mock meats *look* healthier in terms of physique.