According to researchers from the University of Helsinki, Finland, legumes are still an alternative to red meat, as they are a rich source of amino acids and proteins, especially beans and peas are studied.
Within the study they point out that Reducing the consumption of red meat has a great impact on the environment and substituting legumes has proven to be an excellent alternative as they are sustainable ingredients.
Replace red meat with legumes
Suvi Itkonen, lecturer at the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, He explained that reducing the consumption of red and processed meat in a planetary healthy diet, increasing the consumption of local legumes is safe.
Fulfilling two primary goals, reducing the environmental impact caused by red meat production and improving health through intake of amino acids from proteins of plant origin.
The influence of animal protein consumption
A study published in the British Journal of Nutrition included 102 men between the ages of 20 and 65, and the experiment lasted six weeks and He divided the participants into two groups.
On the one hand, there were Finns who the average intake was 25% with 760 g of red meat and processed weekly; the second group will include only 5% of meat consumption and the remaining 20% was a diet based on legumes such as beans and peas.
In order not to show different changes, the diet of the other participants had the same ingredients, and there was no difference when comparing the results. nor vitamin D or calcium deficiency.
Which showed that reducing meat consumption and replacing it with legumes does not represent a loss of nutrients or protein, and for climate change is ecologically sustainable and safe.
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Recommendation for protein intake
The Nordic dietary recommendations emphasize limiting and reducing the consumption of meat and dairy products, substituting ingredients such as pulses, although the addition of dairy products is also recommended for a sufficient proportion of calcium and vitamin D.
Although they don’t necessarily have to be of animal origin, like alternatives to legumes, you can opt for plant-based milk or yogurt-like productsenriched with other nutrients or food supplements.
Beans are a rich source of peptides
A recent trial from Maastricht in the Netherlands demonstrated the effectiveness of extracting bioactive peptides from fava beans using precision technology as an innovative solution for muscle health.
Beans have been shown to have more protein than animal products and to help build muscle, with this knowledge Givaudan, Ingredion and AAK created bean cream cheese with a composition similar to the original.
Finally, it is clarified that several studies still need to be carried out in order to increase it precision and function of alternative ingredientsin addition to continuing to show health benefits.
