The Science Of Plant-Based Meat vs Grass-Fed Meat with Stephan van Vliet

Feb 15, 2023

In this discussion, Stephan van Vliet, a nutrition scientist specializing in metabolomics, delves into the intricate comparisons between plant-based and grass-fed meats. He emphasizes the importance of broader nutrients beyond simple labels, revealing unique health impacts tied to different farming practices. The podcast explores how grazing influences meat quality and highlights the nutritional benefits of specific fatty acids in grass-fed options. Van Vliet's insights encourage a holistic view of diet, illustrating the complex relationship between agricultural methods and human health.

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INSIGHT

Nutritional Differences Beyond the Label

Plant-based meat alternatives and real meat differ significantly in nutritional composition beyond the nutrition facts panel.
A metabolomic analysis revealed a 90% difference in abundance of 200 compounds between grass-fed beef and a plant-based alternative.

INSIGHT

Not Nutritionally Interchangeable

Plant-based and traditional meats have different metabolomic profiles, impacting their function in the body.
They are not nutritionally interchangeable despite similar protein content.

INSIGHT

Health Impacts: Weight, Cholesterol, and Inflammation

A randomized controlled trial by Dr. Chris Gardner showed plant-based meat alternatives slightly reduced weight and LDL cholesterol.
However, no difference was found in 90 inflammatory markers between plant-based and traditional meat.

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This episode is brought to you by Rupa Health, Cozy Earth, BON CHARGE, and Mitopure.

If you’ve ever wondered if plant-based meat alternatives are nutritionally equal to real, pasture-raised meats, or if they are truly better for issues like inflammation and cardiovascular health, this is the episode for you. Meat has become such a monolithic topic when, in fact, it’s extremely complex and nuanced. We can’t just say all meat is good or no meat is good, it’s a matter of what types and sources of proteins you’re eating and what the rest of your diet looks like, too.

I’m excited to dive into all those complexities today with Dr. Stephan van Vliet, who is a nutrition scientist with metabolomics expertise in the Center for Human Nutrition Studies at Utah State University. Dr. van Vliet’s research is performed at the nexus of agricultural and human health. He routinely collaborates with farmers, ecologists, and agricultural scientists to study critical linkages between agricultural production methods, the nutrient density of food, and human health. His work has been published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Scientific Reports, the Journal of Nutrition, and the Journal of Physiology.

This episode is brought to you by Rupa Health, Cozy Earth, BON CHARGE, and Mitopure.

Rupa Health is a place where Functional Medicine practitioners can access more than 2,000 specialty lab tests from over 35 labs. You can check out a free, live demo with a Q&A or create an account at RupaHealth.com.

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Here are more details from our interview (audio version / Apple Subscriber version):

Plant-based meat vs grass-fed meat (7:06 / 3:55)
How the diet of livestock affects the flavor and phytochemical composition of their meat and milk (22:14 / 16:23)
Why the overall composition of your diet matters (29:13 / 23:57)
Research looking at grass-fed vs grain-fed bison (33:23 / 27:34)
How humans can get unique plant compounds through animal consumption (42:07 / 36:22)
Why not all feed-lot feed is equal (44:53 / 38:55)
Why cardiac risk from meat consumption may vary depending on the type of meat (48:14 / 42:26)
The metabolic health of pasture-raised bison vs feed-lot bison (49:09 / 43:12)
Assessing the health of lab-grown meat (57:38 / 53:20)
Honoring the wisdom of farmers and indigenous people (1:06:21 / 1:00:30)

Please visit the Show Notes section for this episode at drhyman.com.