Plant-Based Diets More Satisfying than Meat-Based Diets

Plant-based diets are more satisfying than omnivorous diets, according to a new study published in Clinical Nutrition. Researchers compared brain activity and satiety in participants who ate either a plant-based meal or a meal that included meat. When people consumed the meal with meat, they showed decreased secretion of a hormone that affects reward circuits in the brain and increased markers for stress and inflammation. When they consumed the plant-based meal, they were more satisfied and had better blood flow in the regions of the brain associated with food intake.