Surely on some occasion we have heard of Heura , we have seen advertising of the brand, we have visited its social networks or we have even tried it. Be that as it may, we are going to tell you everything we know about plant-based meat that has revolutionized the industry and made life easier for millions of vegans.
But make no mistake, Heura is not just for vegans and vegetarians . In the next few paragraphs we will reveal its multiple benefits compared to traditional meat and how it helps reduce bad cholesterol and prevents cancer.
The company has burst into our country and it seems that it has come to stay, as it is putting pressure on governments, food policies and habits, the meat industry, animal protection laws and climate change, among other small revolutions.
What is Heura?
It is the vegetable meat with a texture and flavor similar to chicken meat manufactured by Foods for Tomorrow, which is based in Barcelona , Spain.
This product is manufactured from soybeans and in the process all the protein part of the soybean is extracted, it is converted into a protein concentrate that is mixed with filtered water to obtain the mass and, after an extrusion process, they achieve the texture that Heura has. Afterwards, they add the spices as they are going to be packaged as Original, Mediterranean, or Spicy.
Vegetable meat allergens
Specifically, this brand does not contain gluten , except for meatballs and hamburgers that may contain traces, but it would be very rare.
The only allergen that Heura has is soybeans , since it is the main and only ingredient, except for spices, if you have them. The Catalan company explains that they are working to create variants of vegetable meat without using soy.
Vitamins
If we are vegetarians or vegans, there are certain vitamins that we have to give to our body since they are not manufactured by the body and, in the case of vegans, we do not take the products that provide them.
We refer to vitamin B12 . This is acquired by eating cow liver, clams, eggs, milk, cheese and other dairy products, fish, poultry, etc.
When eating a vegan diet, there is no natural way to access vitamin B12, so it takes chemically to administer it. In the case of Heura, it does include vitamin B12 and this is included during the marinating process (adding spices).
On the official website we can read “75 grams of Heura contain 1.87 mcg of vitamin B12” . This amount represents approximately 75% of the recommended daily amount of this vitamin. In vegan and vegetarian diets (more strict) it is recommended to consume about 3mcg of vitamin B12 each day.
Nutritional values
When it comes to vegetable food, there are many who cry out to heaven and are convinced of how unhealthy this food is. We must say that not all vegetable meats are the same, there are some that are loaded with fats, sugars, salts, dyes, etc.
In the case of Heura, there are no preservatives, no colorants or E codes , and if there were, they would be reflected in the nutritional tables as indicated by current law. The company uses extra virgin olive oil in all its products, a very important detail.
Soy protein is the main ingredient , but like all processed products, there are other elements that help achieve the final look.
In the case of Strips and Original Bites , the table is exactly the same:
Nutritional information per 100g
- Energy 136 Kcal.
- Fat 3 g.
- Saturated fat 0.50 g.
- Carbohydrates 1.80 g.
- Sugars 0 g.
- Dietary fiber 6.40 g.
- Proteins 19.70 g.
- Salt 1.37 g.
The Original Meatballs are one of the best-selling products, and this is their nutritional information:
Nutritional information per 100g
- Energy 207 Kcal.
- Fat 11.6 g.
- Saturated fat 1.2 g.
- Carbohydrates 9.4 g.
- Sugars <0.5 g.
- Dietary fiber 5.9 g.
- Proteins 13.3 g.
- Salt 1.35 g.
Las Burger Originales is the star product of the house, and this is its nutritional information:
Nutritional information per 100g
- Energy 145 Kcal.
- Fats 6.5 g.
- Saturated fat 1.0 g.
- Carbohydrates 5.9 g.
- Sugars <0.5 g.
- Dietary fiber 1.9 g.
- Proteins 15.1 g.
- Salt 1.3 g.
Is it a substitute for meat?
In the case of a vegan and vegetarian diet, it is considered a substitute for meat, since there has been no animal cruelty in the manufacturing process . This detail is what mainly differentiates normal meat from plant-based options.
In the specific case of the brand that is the protagonist of this article, its nutritional values are healthier than those of the usual meat, be it pork, chicken or beef. If vegetable meat is manufactured to be healthy, it will always be a better option than animal meat that contains many more colors and fats.
The intake of vegetable meat improves diseases such as chronic inflammation, promotes cardiovascular, intestinal and hormonal health. That added to the fact that the consumption of animal meat is related to allergies, intolerances and cancer.
We are not left alone with that data. Any food option must be as varied as possible, with a good daily serving of fruits, legumes and vegetables and doing some type of physical activity several times a week.
How to use Heura in recipes
We are vegetarians, vegans or we have a traditional varied diet, we can eat Heura at any time. Here the problem may be to find it in supermarkets, since it is not in all, only in some. In fact, on the official website of Heura , we can check on an interactive map if they sell this vegetable meat near our location.
We can add Heura, in the same way that we add beef tacos to a stew, chicken strips for fajitas or in pizzas, a normal hamburger with cheese, vegetables and sauces, Heura snacks in paella, or other types of rice. , pasta, empanadas and broths.
This vegetable meat can be frozen before and after being cooked , as indicated on the official website. It can also be breaded and fried as a breaded chicken fillet, chicken “lagrimitas” or nuggets.
Environmental impact: vegetable meat vs animal meat
Have we ever stopped to think about the environmental impact of food? It is a very recurring topic of debate in recent months. To give us an idea, a single animal hamburger uses about 1,739 liters of water and emits 4 kg of CO2 . However, a Heura “beef” burger only uses 0.7 liters of water and the carbon footprint is negligible.
Unlike the meat industry, which is responsible for 91% of deforestation in the Amazon, Heura raises its soybeans in responsible crops that do not increase deforestation. Likewise, intensive livestock farming emits millions of tons of CO2 each year into the atmosphere.
On the other hand, deforestation is due to the need for more space to plant cereals to feed livestock and more space for sheep, goats, cows and others to graze. Every year more than 60,000 million animals are raised for human consumption alone, and of course, they must be fed to continue the chain.
The production of this meat and the products derived from animals, such as dairy, uses 30% of the total surface of the planet , 70% of the agricultural land available in the world and approximately 8% of the water that we use. humans is to irrigate feed crops.
Not to mention the mistreatment suffered by all animals and the practices that the industry uses to increase production, such as, for example, enclosing chickens in an A4 sheet of paper, removing calves from their mothers 36 hours after birth , chicken nuggets are shredded chicks, pigs live in cages without seeing sunlight, and a long, nasty etcetera.
Why is it good for health?
Vegetable meat is often talked about, but rarely about the health benefits of moving away from animal meat. That is why we recommend, in non-vegan or vegetarian diets, alternate animal meat with vegetable meat so as not to saturate the body, always accompanied by exercise, good hydration, and the intake of fruits, vegetables and legumes.
Profits
Unlike animal meat, which is discouraged for patients with cholesterol and cardiovascular problems, Heura is made from soy and helps lower LDL (the bad) cholesterol . In turn, this vegetable meat contains healthy fatty acids and a very low level of saturated fat, an optimal combination to protect our heart.
Being a 100% vegetable food, it contains a lot of natural fiber, unlike foods of animal origin. This, together with a varied diet, some exercise and plenty of hydration, prevents constipation and regulates intestinal transit, apart from helping to maintain an ideal weight.
Many scientific studies support the consumption of soy on a regular basis and that it prevents the appearance of some types of cancers (prostate, breast, endometrium, among others).
Heura contains soy isoflavones, a compound that helps menopausal women reduce the frequency and intensity of hot flashes.
As it is a very low sugar product, it is considered suitable for diabetics and having so much fiber helps to improve insulin sensitivity.
Compatibility with diets
Heura is not a product exclusively for vegans or vegetarians . Neither this brand, nor any other with plant based meat. Since its products can be bought, cooked and eaten by all those who want to try vegetable meat.
Another advantage of 100% vegetable products is the absence of animal cruelty, which is why it is suitable for everyone, whether or not we are vegans and vegetarians.
If we are following some type of diet, to lose weight, or to gain muscle, it is appropriate to consult a specialist and show him the product, in case he does not know it, and its nutritional values, so that he can make a more objective judgment.
