A new study out this week determined that eating plant-based meats is no healthier for your heart than enjoying real meat. This finding isn’t a surprise to Chauncey Crandall, M.D., one of America’s most famed cardiologists.

“We call that fake meat. This plant-based meat is manipulated,” says Dr. Crandall, the New York Times bestselling author and director of preventive medicine at the Palm Beach Cardiovascular Clinic in Florida.

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For the study, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, participants ages 30 to 70 ate a fixed amount of beef, pork, or chicken breast or an assortment of plant-based meat analogs (PBMAs) from Impossible Foods, Beyond Meat and other manufacturers.

After eight weeks, changes to cholesterol and triglyceride levels were similar in both groups. In addition, meat-eaters had better blood glucose and blood pressure management than those who ate the PBMAs. The scientists concluded that substituting animal-based meats with plant-based meatless products did not benefit cardiovascular health.

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Crandall does not recommend eating plant-based meat. “It has additives…different processing agents, different flavor agents,” Crandall told Newsmax’s “Newsline.”

Dr. Crandall is the author of “The Simple Heart Cure Diet & Meal Plan,” which contains 28 days of healthy meals and more than 100 easy and delicious recipes. The Yale-trained heart surgeon is also editor of the popular "Dr. Crandall's Heart Health Report" newsletter.

“What I would recommend to people with underlying heart disease is to focus more on the Mediterranean diet ─ a plant-based diet.”

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The Mediterranean diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, beans, lentils, and nuts ─ and healthy fats, from extra virgin olive oil and fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

The diet limits or cuts red meat, choosing poultry, fish, or legumes instead. It also calls for little to no sweets, sugary drinks, or butter.