Nutritional experts at the University of Aberdeen have devised their own turkey burger, which includes extracts of the vegetable.
They believe that beetroot – which contains antioxidants – stops the body from absorbing the ‘bad’ fat found in burgers.
They are now seeking healthy males to eat their turkey and beetroot burger, as part of a study to test their findings.
Professor Garry Duthie from the University’s Rowett Research Institute of Nutrition and Health who is leading the research, said: “Processed food forms a major and increasing part of our diet. Consumption of high fat convenience foods in Scotland increases year by year.
“We are looking to identify if adding a vegetable extract to processed food can actually protect the body from absorbing the ‘bad’ fats which exist in these types of products.
“When we eat a fatty food, a process called oxidation occurs in our stomachs, where fats are transformed into potentially toxic compounds and absorbed into the body. These compounds are linked to cancer and heart disease.
“We believe that adding a vegetable extract such as beetroot, which contains antioxidant compounds, will stop this oxidation of fat in the gut, and prohibit the body from absorbing the bad fat.”
Source: University of Aberdeen
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