From: "Henry Grabowski" To: "Susan Grabowski" Subject: http://www.drmcdougall.com/Newsletter/july_aug5.html Date sent: Fri, 4 Sep 1998 07:01:27 -0400 Article about veggie burgers McD newsletter July/Aug 1998 VEGGIE BURGERS The best accepted meat substitute in America is the vegetarian hamburger pattie--they’re everywhere and there’s dozens of kinds to choose from. On the menu of most restaurants you will find a non-meat burger. Every supermarket and natural foods store carries a wide variety of these burgers. Why? Because they sell well and they are versatile. You can eat them plain or between a bun with all the traditional condiments (mustard, onions, ketchup, tomatoes, lettuce and relish) or you can break them up and add them to other dishes to add a meat flavor and texture. But all veggie burgers are not created equal and some are tastier and healthier than others. Unfortunately, the ones that are rated the tastiest in magazines and newspapers are usually the unhealthiest, because they are high in protein, fat and / or salt, which makes them closer in taste and texture to the original ground cow muscle burger. To find the burger that is right for you, and hopefully that’s going to be the healthiest one, you must be a good label reader. The main ingredients you are looking for are vegetables, grains, and legumes. Many of the popular burgers on the market have soy protein and / or wheat gluten (protein) as their main ingredients, which makes the burger very high in protein. Unfortunately, all this protein increases the workload of the liver and kidneys and can cause calcium loss through the kidneys. I would suggest, if you are healthy (no kidney or liver disease and no kidney stones or osteoporosis), and you like the meaty taste and texture of these kinds of burgers that you limit them to, say, no more than 1 pattie a day on the average. Some of the burgers have added oils which can contribute to health problems, including obesity. One brand, Wildwood Tofu-Veggie Burgers, are 60% fat and when you eat them the fat will be very apparent on your plate and your hands. Still other burgers have small amounts of animal foods, like cheeses and eggs, added to otherwise healthy ingredients. The purest vegans and those people who are allergic or otherwise sensitive to these animal proteins (which are many people) will want to read the labels and avoid these. The Cleanest Vegetable Burgers Advantage 10 / Southwestern Vegetable Burger (Dr. Ornish’s): Cooked rice, roasted bell peppers, kidney beans, green beans, carrots, vital wheat gluten, etc. Protein 23%. Fantastic Nature’s Burger: Vegetables, barley, oats, brown rice, red wheat, wheat gluten, lentils, etc. Protein 23%. Garden Burger’s Garden Vegan: Water, brown rice, vital wheat gluten, bulgur wheat, onions, mushrooms, natural spices, autolyzed yeast, olive oil, etc. Protein 31%. Lightlife Barbecue Marinated Grills: Organic rice soy tempeh, brown rice, water, etc. Protein 33%. Yves Garden Vegetable Patties: Water, vegetables, organic brown rice, organic rye, textured soy protein, etc. Protein 31 %.  High Protein Garden Burger Hamburger Style: Water, soy protein, etc. Protein 71%. Morningstar Farms Better’n Burgers: Water, Textured soy protein concentrate, etc. Protein 63%. The Original Boca Burger: Protein from soy with purified water, vegetarian flavors, vegetable fiber, etc. Protein 57%. White Wave Chick’nBurger: Water, wheat gluten, brown rice, bean flour, dehydrated vegetables, etc. Protein 55%. Yves Veggie Burger Burgers: Water textured soy protein, onion, wheat gluten, etc. Protein 63%. High Fat Wildwood Tofu-Veggie Burgers: Wildwood tofu, nigari, etc. and safflower oil. Protein 29%. Fat 60%. Amy’s California Veggie Burger: Mushrooms, organic onions, bulgur wheat, celery, carrots, oats, walnuts, potato flakes, etc. and safflower oil. Protein 16%. Fat 27%. Dairy, Eggs, and Oils Amy’s Veggie Burger (Chicago"): Mushrooms, water, vegetable protein, organic celery, carrots, oats, and bulgur, cheddar cheese, etc. and safflower oil. Protein 24%. Fat 9%. The Original Garden Burger: Mushrooms, brown rice, onions, mozzarella cheese, egg whites, bulgur wheat, etc. Protein 23%. Fat 16%. Garden Burger Veggie Medley (fat free): Cooked brown rice, onion, egg whites, soy cheese with milk protein, canola oil, etc. Protein 24%. Natural Touch Garden Veggie Pattie: Vegetables, textured vegetable protein, egg whites, corn oil, etc. Protein 40%. Fat 23%.