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Your Brain on Fake Meat: The Link to Depression - AI Podcast
Published 7 months ago
Description
Story at-a-glance
- A study found that vegetarians who ate plant-based fake meat are 42% more likely to experience depression than those who don't, even when factors like age, BMI, and lifestyle are taken into account
- Eating fake meat leads to higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of systemic inflammation linked to chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders
- Triglycerides were elevated and HDL cholesterol was lower in those eating fake meat, increasing their long-term risk for cardiovascular disease
- The body reacts to fake meat not because of its nutrients, but because of ultraprocessed ingredients and additives that disrupt immune signaling and metabolic function
- Even when blood nutrient levels appear normal, the deeper immune system activity reveals that fake meat is pushing your body toward inflammation and oxidative stress