Are trendy plant “burgers” healthier?

Q: In an effort to eat more plantbased foods, I’ve been grilling veggie burgers alongside my family’s beef burgers all summer. But lately I’ve been hearing praise about the Beyond Burger. Should I be eating those instead?

A: Beyond Burger, and similar products like Impossible Burger, aim to deliver the experience of eating a hamburger without beef. Made primarily from pea protein isolate, the Beyond Burger sizzles, tastes and even

bleeds like a burger while delivering 20 grams of protein per patty— twice the protein and none of the cholesterol found in the real thing. However, if you enjoy veggie burgers made with black beans, sweet potatoes or other veggies, we think those are a better bet. You’ll get more of the good-for-you antioxidants that they contain, and in the case of bean burgers, enough protein and fiber to be satisfying, while the Beyond Burger delivers protein and iron but little in the way of other phytonutrients. New research from the University of Montreal suggests a sweet solution: sipping maple water while you walk. In the study, subjects who did so reported feeling less fatigued than those who sipped a commercial sports drink.

Unlike maple syrup, which is boiled until it’s thick and sticky, maple water is the pure sap collected from maple trees that has been filtered through the tree roots and infused with nutrients. What’s more, maple water has been shown to hydrate two times faster than regular water and has half the calories of coconut water, making it the perfect energy drink for hot summer days—and all for just 21⁄2 calories per ounce!

To get the benefits, sip 6 oz. of maple water (like Drink Simple Maple Water, $3 per 12 oz. bottle, at health-food stores) before your walk and 6 oz. after.

I’ve lost 13 pounds with daily walks, but the summer heat is sapping my energy. What can help?