That depends on the ingredients and processes used to make the vegan meat alternative. According to a Harvard study in 2016: People who consume more plant-based protein as opposed to animal protein have lower overall risk of death. However, this study was based on individuals who consumed plant protein obtained from whole foods, such as pulses, nuts, and beans. Nowadays, there are plenty of highly processed meat alternatives on the market, including Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods. Many of these were created to match the real thing in taste and texture, rather than aiming to be nutritious.