A recent study has found that consuming lab-grown fake meat, such as plant-based alternatives in foods like burgers, may increase the likelihood of developing depression.
Researchers compared the mental health of individuals who consumed plant-based meat alternatives with those who did not eat these substitutes. The results, published in the Food Frontier journal, revealed that individuals who ate these alternatives were 42% more likely to suffer from depression compared to those who did not.
The study’s authors (who deemed the results concerning) also highlighted that blood tests showed individuals who consumed fake meat had higher blood pressure and increased levels of inflammation.
For the research, scientists at the University of Surrey analyzed data from the UK Biobank, which included health data from more than 500,000 individuals. Of these, 3,342 participants were eligible for the study, with about two-thirds being women.
