When we think of maintaining a vegan diet, you assume it will be healthier and create longevity in your life. After all, if you can't eat meat, the whole foods you can eat are fruits, veggies, nuts, and beans. But food items like Oreos, Sour Patch Kids are considered “vegan” as well.

The term “vegan’ and “plant-based” have essentially become marketing terms. Throw these terms on any food items and people will instantly form positive thoughts. At a deeper look at the vegan food nutritional labels, ingredients like, natural flavor, sunflower oil, potato starch, apple extract, yeast extract, methylcellulose, soy leghemoglobin, are some of the ingredients found in plant-based alternative meats.

A study conducted by the University of Minnesota saw that Plant-based ground beef alternative tend to be a good source of nutrients like folate, fiber, and iron. And most of the plant-based alternatives were found to contain significantly lower amounts of saturated fat in comparison to ground beef.

The ingredient that gives these products the taste of meat is called heme. Heme is an iron-containing compound that, in meat, comes from animal muscle or tissue. Majority of the heme in these products are soy based and comes from yeast fermentation.

If your goal is to eat less meat, then the plant-based meat alternatives are a good option. If you’re looking to get leaner and manage your health, try a plant-based patty made from bean, whole grains, and vegetables.