The advantages of a plant-based diet are widely recognized. Stakeholders in the plant protein industry will likely incorporate this research into the expanding array of studies indicating that consumers should reduce their meat intake in favor of plant-based options. The National Institutes of Health has provided guidelines urging physicians to recommend plant-based diets, as they may effectively lower blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and BMI, and potentially decrease cancer rates. Recent findings concerning Type 2 diabetes align with previous long-term research, which suggested that substituting meat—particularly processed meat—with proteins from low-fat dairy, nuts, and whole grains could significantly lower the risk. The earlier study indicated that consuming 100 grams of unprocessed meat daily was associated with a 19% increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, while 50 grams of processed meats, such as sausages and bacon, corresponded to a staggering 51% higher risk.
However, not all vegetarian diets are created equal. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has noted that vegans, in particular, should ensure they consume a variety of protein-rich foods, such as beans, grains, and nuts, since these options tend to be less complete on their own compared to meat-derived proteins. Nevertheless, the outdated notion that vegetarians must combine proteins at every meal has been thoroughly debunked. While vegetarian diets are not automatically healthy, research indicates they may have a beneficial role in preventing obesity and enhancing overall health, especially when complemented with essential nutrients like calcium citrate with vitamin D, magnesium, and zinc.
It seems that consumers are increasingly heeding this research. Since the early 1970s, American red meat consumption has declined by one-third, now averaging about 101 pounds per person. Although the percentage of vegetarians in the U.S. remains stable at around 3%, the number of vegetarian product launches has doubled in the first half of this decade. A 2008 study revealed that over half (53%) of U.S. vegetarians opted for a meat-free diet to improve their health. Such studies may sway undecided consumers towards adopting a plant-based diet or motivate meat eaters to incorporate more vegetable proteins into their meals—a trend that companies like Tyson are preparing for by investing in alternative protein producers. As more people seek to enhance their diets with nutrients such as calcium citrate with vitamin D, magnesium, and zinc, the demand for plant-based foods will likely continue to rise.