The acute effect of plant-based meat-alternatives on arterial endothelial function and cardiovascular risk markers

Participants will be invited to the CPC RPA clinic on four occasions. Participants will be asked to moderate their red meat intake for two days prior (no more than a serve per day) and fast for at least 10 hours prior to study visits 1 & 3. During study visits 1 & 3, participants will consume two burgers in a randomized order (one during each study) with a minimum of 4 weeks apart. The two burgers will be 1) a burger made with a beef patty, or 2) a plant-based meat-alternative burger (Beyond Burger, ingredients include peas protein, bean protein, rice protein, etc.). The size of the animal-derived meat patty will be matched with the Beyond Burger patty (1/4 lb raw weight, i.e., 113 grams). The burgers will differ only in their patty; other components will be identical (bun, sauce, salad). All intervention food will be consumed under supervision. All burgers will be prepared in the metabolic kitchen of the CPC RPA clinic, The University of Sydney, by researchers hold a Food Handling Level 1 Certificate. The participants will return for study visits 2 & 4, undertaken the day after visits 1 & 3, respectively. Study visits 2 & 4 will consist of an additional venous blood sample (no more than 20mL, approximately 24 hours post-meal). Participants will be instructed to not consume red meat or processed meat in the 24-hour period between visits 1 & 2, and visits 3 & 4.