Why is veggie burgers good for you

In addition to ethical issues regarding how the animals are treated, the livestock industry has a vast environmental footprint, contributing to land and water degradation, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and acid rain.

And of the less than 1 percent of freshwater available for human use, 70 percent goes toward livestock production—a pound of beef requires almost 1, gallons of water to produce, compared to about gallons for the equivalent amount of soy.

Studies have linked increased consumption of meat, especially red meat, with an increased risk of heart disease, cancer, neurodegenerative disease, and all-cause mortality. Note: Most of these studies have been done on conventional meats—i.

The solution? We respect your privacy. All email addresses you provide will be used just for sending this story. By Rachel Meltzer Warren. June 5, What's the Protein Status? More On Healthy Eating. The Scoop on Soy Safety. Eat Smarter, Eat Healthier. How Processed Is It? Is It Sneaking In Salt? What's the Calorie Count? This can be challenge with some veggie burgers, said Taub-Dix. In addition to being an essential part of our diet, consuming protein also helps us to feel satiated.

Taub-Dix recommends Dr. Praeger's All American Veggie Burger, which packs a whopping 28 grams of protein. Although some meatless patties can easily pass the protein test, an area where they sometimes struggle to compete with meat ones is staying in a healthy sodium range. The daily recommended sodium intake is 2, mg per person, according to the US Food and Drug Administration.

Taub-Dix said sodium level is something we should definitely pay attention to when purchasing a meatless burger. This is because extra sodium is often added to meatless products as a preservative and flavor enhancer. Beef in particular contains animal fat that gives it that bold flavor people crave , so mimicking that taste can be difficult and require extra sodium. They do offer people a tasty burger with way less and sometimes zero cholesterol and less fat overall.

This is mostly because longer lists can be a sign the product is highly processed rather than filled with whole, natural foods. The shortest and most recognizable ingredient lists are worn by foods that are minimally processed and easiest to decode" she said on her website. Praeger patties , which are available at many US grocery stores. They offer several different patties made of ingredients everyone will recognize.