
Fresh Off the Grill: Is Burger King’s Plant-Based ‘Impossible Whopper’ Healthy?

American multinational fast-food chain Burger King rolled out a new plant-based Whopper called the Impossible Burger back in August 2019. They initially tested the new product in selected markets but eventually released them nationwide.
What makes this burger stand out from Burger King’s menu of guilty pleasures is that it is completely plant-based. What gives it a meaty flavor is an ingredient called heme, which comes from soy plants.
Testings first started in early 2019 at St. Louis. The fast-food company then revealed their intention to included additional markets so that they could start with nationwide distribution by the end of that year. Burger King told USA Today that the test results were encouraging. They also revealed that they had received a lot of good feedback from both plant-eaters and meat lovers about the product.

Deutschlandreform/Shutterstock | Burger King rolled out the Impossible Whopper in August 2019.
The Impossible Whopper was first developed by Impossible Foods, a Silicon Valley-based company that specializes in developing plant-based alternatives to meat products. Among the ingredients of the burger are several oils like coconut and sunflower oil, soy protein concentrate, and a variety of additives.
Just one patty weighing 4 ounces can provide 240 calories, 14 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 370 milligrams of sodium, 9 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, and 19 grams of protein. That’s just the burger patty.
When you factor in the other components of the burger sandwich like the tomatoes, mayo, ketchup, lettuce, pickles, white onions, and sesame seed buns, its nutrient facts would bump up a couple of grams higher. A full sandwich has 630 calories, 34 grams of fat, 11 grams of saturated fat, 1,080 milligrams of sodium, 58 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, and 19 grams of protein.

NTL Photography/Shutterstock | The Impossible Whopper is a plant-based burger.
Nutritionists are all in favor of having a plant-based menu option. Keri Gans, RDN, who authored the book titled The Small Change, even applauded Burger King for the move as more and more consumers have been trying to go plant-based.
The big question, however, is if the Impossible Whopper is healthy. It depends on what you are comparing it with. If you put the plant-based burger alongside other options on Burger King’s menu, then it can be considered “healthy”. It’s one of the healthier burger options, according to Gans. However, she also noted the high levels of saturated fats. Although it’s significantly less the regular Whopper, it’s still a high level.
According to Beth Warren, RDN, the burger’s main ingredient is a highly processed and highly refined form of soybean. Like many processed foods, the Impossible Whopper is also high in sodium.

Tada Images/Shutterstock | Make your Impossible Whopper meal a little bit healthier by choosing a salad over fries and water over soda.
When you order an Impossible Burger (or any other burger for that matter), you usually get fries and soda. That makes it unhealthy. A medium-sized serving of fries already has 380 calories and 17 grams of fat, while 12 ounces of Coke has 140 calories and 39 grams of sugar.
For Warren, the Impossible Whopper is best for those who are vegan or don’t eat red meat but want to try something that tastes similar to the popular comfort food. Not for those who are after the health benefits. Although the Impossible Burger is friendly for the planet, it’s still a burger and should be enjoyed in moderation.
More in Life Style
-
`
Halle Berry Suffers from a Health Condition That Makes Coronavirus More Dangerous for Her
While contracting the highly contagious coronavirus does not automatically equate to a death sentence, it can affect people differently. Those with...
October 21, 2020 -
`
Creating a passion that will get you in shape quickly
Often, people whо аrе trying tо lose wеight fаil tо mаkе ѕоlid gоаlѕ, usually because thеу ѕimрlу dоn’t knоw how....
October 18, 2020 -
`
Tick Tock! You Can Reverse Your Heart’s Age, Experts Say
Ralph Waldo Emerson, the famous American poet is famed for his magnanimous contributions to the literary field. In one of his...
October 13, 2020 -
`
The Effects These 5 Popular Drugs Put On Your Body & Mind Will Shock You
Do you feel relaxed after having a drink? Does smoking marijuana calm your nerves? Well, if you have ever wondered why...
September 27, 2020 -
`
THIS Shocking Fact About Millennials Reveals The Cause Behind Declining Physical Fitness
There’s no doubt that a lot has changed between Generation X and millennials. In fact, the differences are astonishing. In the...
September 6, 2020 -
`
The Life-Changing Impact Silence Has on Our Brains
When it comes to mental health, there are quite a number of times when silence is gold and speech silver. Indeed,...
August 15, 2020 -
`
Home Remedies That Miraculously Relieve Back Pain
Many people suffer back pain during their lives. The good news is that most of the pain will disappear within a...
August 13, 2020 -
`
Thе Bеѕt Slеерing Positions Fоr Lower Back Pаin
Hаvе уоu ever thought аbоut thе роѕitiоnѕ in which уоu ѕlеер? Considering that mаnу оf uѕ ѕреnd сlоѕе to a third...
August 9, 2020 -
`
5 Things You Are Doing Every Day That Are Making Your Weight Loss Diet USELESS
Losing extra pounds is no easy job. Even if you are super-conscious about doing workouts every day and counting your calories,...
August 5, 2020
You must be logged in to post a comment Login