It’s very important for humans to consume nutritionally complete diets. These promote heart and overall body health, can reduce the risk of life-threatening conditions, and even offer benefits to sleep quality and general fitness. 

Doctors and other health specialists advocate for diets rich in fruit and vegetables to obtain necessary vitamins, minerals and fiber. Yet, despite this, a common misconception is that plant-based diets are not nutritionally complete. The reality is that plant-based diets offer an array of health benefits. Those who eat a plant-based diet lower their risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and other health conditions.

Generally, plant-based diets are centered around fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, legumes, and nuts. These foods are full of fiber, rich in vitamins and minerals, free of cholesterol and low in calories and saturated fat. Eating a variety of these foods provides all of the protein, calcium, and other essential nutrients your body needs. What is true is that these foods generally do not contain significant levels of B12, so it is important for plant-based consumers to include a reliable source of this in their diet. Fortunately, this need can easily be met by incorporating a serving of B12-fortified foods daily – such as B12-fortified breakfast cereal, plant milk, or nutritional yeast. 

Moreso, common within the range of new alternative protein products in the market are “superfood” alternatives. These options incorporate the necessary nutrients consumers need and often offer additional health benefits, such as higher protein content than traditional animal-based items. Further, through the incorporation of seldom-used ingredients that have not yet been commonly domesticated, entrepreneurs and food scientists in the alternative protein space are beginning to unlock nutrients and flavours that are additive to the human food system. 

These options enable plant-based diets that are nutritionally superior to omnivorous diets and offer significantly more benefits than the traditional “meat and two veg” way of dining. For founders in the alternative protein industry understanding these benefits is key. A high percentage of consumers indicate that their driving reason for adopting a plant-based diet is nutrition and health. Optimizing the ingredients in plant-based offerings to ensure the highest possible health value for consumers can bolster sales, and even compensate for initially higher prices before production at scale is achieved. For new entrants into the market, providing healthier items can be a desirable selling point and offer a competitive edge over competitors – while boosting value for purchasers.