US Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance has advocated for Indian vegetarian cuisine instead of lab-created “fake” meat, which he calls “disgusting”. Wellness expert Joe Rogan, who is married to an Indian American, speaking in a podcast with Vance, said that fake meat was ‘highly processed garbage’ that upsets him.

Vance said that his wife Usha cooks delicious Indian dishes and said that all vegetarians should eat “paneer, rice and delicious chickpeas”.

What is lab grown meat?,

It is also known as cultured or cultured meat – it is grown from the cells of an animal, without the need for slaughter to obtain the meat. Animal cells are grown in stainless steel drums known as bioreactors – engineered to stimulate the replication of cells or the growth of biological mass.

The products resulting from this process have received enthusiasm due to their potential to replace the millions of animals raised in factory farms around the world.

Experts say that because cultured meat is produced in a laboratory environment, it does not suffer from the contamination and health problems that plague conventional meat producers such as antibiotic resistance and foodborne and zoonotic diseases.

According to studies, about 3-6 percent of Americans are vegetarians and vegans. Even though these meats may seem like healthy choices, plant-based meats undergo harsh processing in which most of the nutrients are destroyed. They also lack fiber and contain artificial colors and spices as well as preservatives.

What are the benefits of eating vegetarian food?

Studies say eating more fruits, vegetables and plant-based foods is a long-standing nutritional recommendation for better health. The current Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020–2025 support vegetarian diets as a dietary option to promote health and prevent disease.

Several studies suggest that vegetarian and vegan diets help regulate and control blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. Vegetarian diets exclude meat, poultry, and seafood, while vegan diets exclude other animal products such as eggs and dairy.

According to data, a vegetarian diet aids in blood sugar control, reduces hemoglobin A1c by 0.40 percent and reduces body mass index by 0.96. These diets can reduce diabetes medication and improve insulin sensitivity by about 10 percent compared to a non-vegetarian diet.

Indian staple foods like curd, salad, roti, dal and vegetables usually contain large amounts of rice and wheat flour. The food is prepared from scratch, with little scope for processed foods. Vegetables are rich in all the essential nutrients like antioxidants, iron, vitamin A, C, K, folic acid, calcium and many other micronutrients. Pulses are a storehouse of protein, along with folate, iron and vitamin B1, which support heart health and prevent chronic diseases.

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