In 1964, Lyndon B. Johnson declared February American Heart Month in an effort to bring attention to the disease—which has been the leading cause of death in America since 1921.
And to this day, the illness continues to ravage Americans. In the United States alone, cardiovascular disease was responsible for 928,741 deaths in 2020. Diet plays a major role in curbing heart disease risk and this February, these three vegan brands have support from the American Heart Association (AHA) in helping Americans get heart disease under control.
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1Daily Harvest: Love Your Heart Collection
The majority of Americans, approximately 58 percent, get their calories from ultra-processed foods. That number is higher among children and it’s growing, according to Carolina Schneider, MS, RD, in-house nutritionist at Daily Harvest.
“In navigating the landscape of heart health, Americans often encounter pitfalls in their food choices due to the prevalence of the standard American diet, which lacks many of the necessary nutrients to support cardiovascular wellness,” Schneider tells VegNews.
For these reasons, the plant-based meal subscription company created its Love Your Heart Collection, which emphasizes whole foods to support heart health, aligning closely to AHA’s dietary guidelines.
The collection is the latest installment of the company’s Nutrition Playbooks and was crafted for every part of the day with smoothies, breakfast, snacks, pastas, flatbreads, grain bowls, desserts, and more. All Love Your Heart Collection items are free from added sugars or cholesterol with a focus on fiber and a one-gram limit on saturated fat and less than 600 milligrams of sodium per serving.
“All items are plant-based, comprising fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds,” Schnieder says. “The collection aims to simplify healthy eating and make it more accessible to individuals looking to prioritize their heart health.”
To make a bigger impact, through October 31, 2025, Daily Harvest will donate $20 from each Love Your Heart Collection to support AHA’s Life Is Why Campaign.
“We’re proud of our relationship with the AHA and look forward to working with them to spread the word about this delicious offering that benefits a great cause and promotes heart health,” Nisha Desai, Director, Business Development + Strategic Partnerships, tells VegNews.
This initiative will fund AHA’s research that can improve the health outcomes of heart and stroke patients; train more than 2.5 million high school students in CPR annually; and support the work of local entrepreneurs and organizations working to improve health outcomes in under-resourced communities.
2Beyond Meat: Beyond Steak
Is eating steak bad for your heart health? Studies have shown that regular consumption of red and processed meats is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, including coronary heart disease and stroke. In fact, a 2022 study found that the risk grew by 22 percent with each added daily meat serving.
But if you want to have your steak and eat it, too, Beyond Meat’s plant-based version is a hearty-healthy swap this February.
Beyond Meat
Last year, Beyond Meat got an AHA Heart Healthy Check for Beyond Steak, which indicates the plant-based meat—made with a base of fava beans—met the AHA’s strict nutritional guidelines.
“The Heart-Check Mark has become a standard in empowering consumers to make informed health decisions,” Ethan Brown, Beyond Meat CEO, said in a statement.
“Like the American Heart Association, we aim to provide individuals access to nutritious options that prioritize taste and sustainability,” Brown said.
In addition to gaining AHA certification, Beyond Meat was also part of the SWAP-MEAT study. Published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the study demonstrated the favorable impact of substituting animal-based meat with Beyond Meat’s plant-based alternatives, highlighting improvements in cardiovascular disease risk factors, including LDL cholesterol levels.
3Impossible Foods: Beef Lite
Impossible Foods is also helping Americans make a heart-healthier switch this February with its Impossible Beef Lite—a plant-based alternative to lean beef that received AHA’s Healthy Heart Check last year.
Swapping meat with whole foods such as veggies and beans is great for your heart. However, meat consumption is a major part of American culture, often making it difficult for the average consumer to make the switch to these foods alone.
“Meat is a cornerstone of the American diet. It is ingrained in our culture, whether it’s hot dogs at a baseball game or burgers at a summer barbecue,” Sunil Chandran, Chief Science Officer at Impossible Foods, tells VegNews.
“Our core objective at Impossible is to be a part of the American culture and provide consumers with more choices by making meat that’s better tasting, but with zero cholesterol and lower saturated fat,” Chandran says. “We’re able to do so by using plants to recreate the crave-worthy experience of meat, but without many of its negative attributes.”
Impossible Foods
Since Beef Lite is not made from animal products, the plant-based meat—and all other Impossible Foods products—do not contain any cholesterol. Beef Lite was also developed as a one-for-one swap for its animal counterpart in recipes such as tacos, burgers, burritos, and more.
“We don’t believe you should have to give up your favorite foods just to be a bit more health-conscious,” Chandran says.
Impossible Foods is continuing to innovate its plant-based meats and is currently on its third iteration of the Impossible Burger, which it first released in 2016. The newest version cuts saturated fat by 25 percent and improves protein quality.
This rapid innovation gives Impossible the upper hand when it comes to the evolving needs and preferences of its consumers, this American Heart Month and beyond. “This is a level of improvement that the animal will never match,” Chandran says.
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Anna Starostinetskaya is the Senior News Editor at VegNews and is always keeping an eye on all things vegan in her home city of San Francisco, CA and everywhere else.
