Veggie Fake Meat Eater Worries About Sodium

Question for Savvy Vegetarian

I enjoy many of the newer vegetarian fake meat products available these days (taco meat, meatballs, etc). However I notice that everyone I eat is very high in sodium (at least it seems to me). A single serving of a given product can be easily 20% of the usda sodium allotment....and I may eat two or three servings. I'm concerned i'm getting too much sodium with these products. No cholestrol, low in fat, but high in sodium for taste. Has the industry overlooked this or am I concerned for nothing?

I'd appreciate any help you could give me. Thanks, C.L.

SV Advice

Dear C.L.,

You're right to be concerned about the amount of sodium in those fake meats. And no, the industry hasn't overlooked it, they just don't care because Salt Sells. The main ingredient, soy meal, is not so good either, in the quantities you're eating. Soy tends to cause hormonal imbalances, has something like sixteen known allergens, and the things they do to it in processing appear to cause cancer.

What I don't understand is why you need to eat so much highly processed fake meat, when there are so many other good sources of vegetarian protein widely available. Why not try some other kinds of vegetarian protein, like tofu, tempeh, beans, hummus, nuts, seeds, high protein grains like quinoa, etc? I've attached the free free SV report, Vegetarian Nutrition.

Thanks for writing, and all the best!

Judy Kingsbury, Savvy Vegetarian

Health Disclaimer:

Savvy Vegetarian provides education and support to individuals who want to become vegetarian, or improve their diet. We don't advocate any particular vegetarian diet. We don't claim to be health care professionals, or nutritionists, nor do we treat any illness. Any changes that you make to your diet, or results of those changes, are your decision and responsibility. For your protection, we ask you to be completely open with us about your health, and we may recommend a medical exam before changing your diet. We reserve the right to refuse or to end a client relationship if we believe the client's actions may endanger his or her health.

Get A FREE REPORT With Free Vegetarian Advice From Savvy Vegetarian

Find Out More About Free Vegetarian Advice

Back To Advice Index