Being vegetarian isn’t always healthy
- Consuming a plant-based diet is widely considered to be beneficial to health
- But refined grains and potatoes lead to a higher risk of cardio-metabolic disease
- Researchers studies samples from more than 200,000 participants for the study
Colin Fernandez Science Correspondent For The Daily Mail
14
View
comments
Vegetarian diets are widely touted as a healthier option than eating meat.
Eating a vegetarian diet isn’t always healthy and some may increase the risk of heart disease, scientists say.
But experts said that it can lead to a higher risk of heart disease – if vegetarians eat lots of refined grains, potatoes and sweets, and indulge in sweetened drinks.
Researchers from Harvard University designed separate diets which focused on plant food with a reduced animal food intake and a vegetarian diet that emphasised the intake of healthy plant foods such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
They also studied a third which was based on unhealthy diet of less healthy plant foods like refined grains.
Eating a vegetarian diet isn’t always healthy and some may increase the risk of heart disease
Dr Ambika Satija, a postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health said: ‘When we examined the associations of the three food categories with heart disease risk, we found that healthy plant foods were associated with lower risk, whereas less healthy plant foods and animal foods were associated with higher risk.
‘It’s apparent that there is a wide variation in the nutritional quality of plant foods, making it crucial to take into consideration the quality of foods in a plant-based diet.’
-
Are you being conned by your protein shake? Why the…
The key to weight loss success: Eat breakfast like a king,…
‘Social prescriptions’ may treat pain better than medical…
Pauses in speech may indicate Alzheimer’s disease: Taking…
How was the study carried out?
Researchers studies samples from more than 200,000 participants and followed up with a questionnaire every two years for 20 years on their lifestyle, health behaviours and medical history.
Lead author Dr Satija chose to exclude participants with coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer and coronary artery surgery.
A follow-up
HOW GOING VEGGIE MAKES YOU SKINNY
Dieters who follow a vegetarian eating plan lose nearly twice as much weight as calorie-restricting meat eaters, a study revealed last month.
Cutting 500 calories a day and adopting a plant-based diet resulted in an average weight loss of 13.67lbs (6.2kg) after six months, compared to 7.05lbs (3.2kg) in meat eaters.
Researchers believe this may be due to vegetarian diets changing our fat storage and insulin sensitivity, as well as making us feel more energized, which encourages people to stick to their eating plan.
Lead author Dr Hana Kahleova from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine in Washington DC, said: ‘A diet built around plants is naturally rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals, which leaves us feeling energized and refreshed instead of hungry and fatigued.’
But during a follow-up found that 8,631 participants had developed coronary heart disease.
Results showed that a diet of whole grains, fruits and vegetables were associated with a substantially lower risk of heart disease.
The Rush University Medical Centre in Chicago, IL, USA, backed the research and said not all plant-based foods are equally healthy.
In a follow up to the research authors will now examine dietary patterns to understand the effect of gradual adherence to a plant-based diet through reduced animal food intake and increased plant food intake on heart disease risk.
They deserve more emphasis
Dr Kim Allan Williams said: ‘Plant-based diets with whole grains, unsaturated fats and an abundance of fruits and vegetables deserve more emphasis in dietary recommendations.
‘Just as physical activity is a continuum, perhaps an emphasis on starting with smaller dietary tweaks rather than major changes would be more encouraging and sustainable.’
The study was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Share or comment on this article
-
HAIRY-kiri! Bizarre moment Japanese ‘sprinkle-on wig’ is… -
Air passengers face massive delay after clueless parents… -
Downing Street freerunner, 22, who mowed down and killed… -
‘She is our strength, our laughter, our inner warrior,… -
Boy, seven, died at the private Portland Hospital when… -
Converted 17th-century barn built with timbers from… -
Police hunt ‘erratic’ driver who slit another motorist’s… -
France moves above US and Britain to become the world’s… -
Hunt for man who was caught on CCTV carrying a rifle… -
Mini FLAME-THROWERS that are designed to fight off sex… -
Pensioners’ heartbreak after learning HS2 will bulldoze… -
At least 547 boys were sexually and physically abused at… -
Is it really worth it for a selfie? Tourists risk their… -
Veteran BBC radio DJ is suspended ‘after swearing and… -
They got a-whey with it! Thieves steal two huge blocks of… -
The diver who survived his worst nightmare: Explorer… -
Tories slam ‘shameful’ Labour MPs for blocking debate on… -
UberEats driver who was targeted in a horrific acid…
Comments 14
Share what you think
-
Newest -
Oldest -
Best rated -
Worst rated
The comments below have not been moderated.
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
Close
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual.
Close
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual
We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook.
You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.