New research has shown that when it comes to diet & nutrition, a plant based diet could be the way to improve your wellness and wellbeing. Although more research is needed in this area, the initial research has shown that eating mainly plants could have a number of health benefits.
If you eat a lot of fruits, nuts, vegetables, wholegrains and meat substitutes such as soy, you may be less likely to get certain types of heart problems such as heart disease.
A plant-based diet can help to reduce your risk of having high blood levels of cholesterol, high levels of bad cholesterol, high blood pressure, high blood triglycerides, being overweight or suffering from obesity, having metabolic syndrome or developing a blood sugar conditions such as diabetes.
On the other hand, a normal Western diet, whichis rich in meat, can help to increase your risk of getting heart disease, when compared to diets that are rich in fruits and vegetables. In fact, one study showed that a Western diet actually increases your risk of getting heart disease by a shocking 46 percent.
There are various types of plant-based diets, such as vegan, lacto-vegetarian and lacto-ovo-vegetarian. Vegan diets mean that the user cannot eat any eggs, meat or dairy products. Lacto-vegetarian diets prohibit you from eating meat or eggs, but dairy products are absolutely fine. Lacto-ovo-vegetarians can eat dairy products and eggs but cannot eat meat.
Most of the studies into the effect of the diet have been small. So far it has been very difficult for researchers to work out whether the heart benefits of these diets are due to the diets themselves or other associated factors such as weight loss.
Many large scale studies in to the Mediterranean diet shows similar effects, although this diet does include some meat.
Comments are closed.