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Vegetarian Diets Not just an effective remedy for obesity
According to recent studies, vegetarian and vegan people show a healthy nutrient balance. The prescription of vegetarian diet helps to reduce the BMI. These are just two new findings reported by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in a new journal.
Healthy nutrient balance for vegetarians and vegans
Only a few days ago it was reported that the veggie boom has recently subsided, but according to experts, the long-term trend towards vegetarian and vegan nutrition will persist. Although there are always critical voices that claim that it comes through a diet without animal products to nutrient deficiencies, but recent studies show a healthy nutrient balance in vegetarian and vegan living people, reports the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in the current issue of the journal "Journal of Health Monitoring".
Some people think that a diet without animal products leads to nutrient deficiencies. But studies show that vegetarian and vegan people show a healthy nutrient balance. (Image: Kurhan / fotolia.com) Vegetarian diet is more common in women than in men
In this new online quarterly report, the RKI reports on all areas of public health. The subject of nutrition is the focus of the second edition.
As the experts write in a press release, a total of 50.8 percent of adults prepare their meals daily or almost daily even from fresh foods.
The RKI epidemiologists have analyzed data from the German Adult Health Study (DEGS1) for their contribution to the vegetarian diet.
When asked "Do you usually eat vegetarian?", 4.3 of adults between the ages of 18 and 79 responded with "yes". This diet is reported to be more prevalent among women at 6.1 percent than at 2.5 percent.
Socially and ecologically positive aspects
"There are several reasons to eat vegetarian food. A strong plant-based diet has not only health benefits but also socially and ecologically positive aspects, "the magazine says.
Nutritionists and health scientists used to assume that vegetarians could be at a higher risk for nutrient deficiencies. But recent studies show a healthy nutrient balance in vegetarian and vegan people.
Supply of vitamin B12
For some nutrients, it is actually more difficult to absorb them sufficiently through a vegetarian and, above all, a vegan diet. Especially the supply of vitamin B12 can cause problems. However, vegans are usually aware that they should avoid vitamin B12 deficiency.
Other critical nutrients include long-chain n-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, iron, calcium, zinc, iodine, and selenium. However, in recent years, according to the RKI, it has been observed that some of these nutrient deficiencies are actually not more common among vegetarians than among people who are not vegetarians.
Preventive potential for many diseases
There are enough health reasons for a meat-free diet. In particular, the preventive potential of a vegetarian or mainly plant-based diet for chronic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases and cancer is highlighted.
According to RKI, "On a broad study basis, it could be shown that prescribing a vegetarian diet can help reduce the body mass index (BMI)." In addition, according to a recent meta-analysis, a vegetarian diet is associated with a lower risk of ischemic heart disease in both sexes.
Reduction of meat consumption
In terms of social and environmental policy, a vegetarian lifestyle is often credited with positive effects.
According to the RKI, a reduction in meat consumption in Germany from a public health point of view is considered useful because it is significantly above the recommendation of the German Nutrition Society (DGE).
"These positive effects would be further enhanced if, in addition to the relatively small group of people who abstain completely from meat, an overall larger population would reduce their meat consumption," write the authors.
British researchers have recently studied the question of what would happen if all people were vegetarians everywhere. In their study, they found that it would make the planet and humans much better. For example, by 2050, it could kill seven million fewer people a year. (Ad)