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Thread: Vegans and vegetarians may have higher stroke risk

  1. #1

    Vegans and vegetarians may have higher stroke risk

    Vegans and vegetarians may have higher stroke risk

    By Caroline Parkinson
    Health editor, BBC News website

    People who eat vegan and vegetarian diets have a lower risk of heart disease and a higher risk of stroke, a major study suggests.

    They had 10 fewer cases of heart disease and three more strokes per 1,000 people compared with the meat-eaters.

    The research, published in the British Medical Journal, looked at 48,000 people for up to 18 years.

    However, it cannot prove whether the effect is down to their diet or some other aspect of their lifestyle.

    Diet experts said, whatever people's dietary choice, eating a wide range of foods was best for their health.

    What does this study add?

    It analyses data from the EPIC-Oxford study, a major long-term research project looking at diet and health.

    Half of participants, recruited between 1993 and 2001, were meat-eaters, just over 16,000 vegetarian or vegan, with 7,500 who described themselves as pescatarian (fish-eating).

    They were asked about their diets, when they joined the study and again in 2010. Medical history, smoking and physical activity were taken into account,

    Altogether, there were 2,820 cases of coronary heart disease (CHD) and 1,072 cases of stroke - including 300 haemorrhagic strokes, which happen when a weakened blood vessel bursts and bleeds into the brain.

    The pescatarians were found to have a 13% lower risk of CHD than the meat-eaters, while the vegetarians and vegans had a 22% lower risk.

    But those on plant-based diets had a 20% higher risk of stroke. The researchers suggested this could be linked to low vitamin B12 levels but said more studies were needed to investigate the connection.

    It is also possible that the association may have nothing to do with people's diets and may just reflect other differences in the lives of people who do not eat meat.

    So does it show vegan and vegetarian diets are unhealthy?

    Dr Frankie Phillips, from the British Dietetic Association, says not - because this was an observational study.

    "They looked at what people ate and followed them for years, so it's an association, not cause-and-effect," she says.

    "The message, for everyone, is it makes sense to have a well-planned diet, and to eat a wide variety of foods.

    "Meat-eaters don't necessarily have a varied diet, because they might live on meat and potatoes for dinner every night and not have any vegetables."

    Has what people eat changed since this study started?

    Researchers did go back to participants in 2010 to ask them again about their diets.

    But Dr Phillips says vegan and vegetarian diets will have changed.

    "This is data that's been collected from a couple of decades ago," she says.

    "It might well be that the typical vegetarian diet today looks very different to a vegetarian or vegan diet from 20 or 30 years ago.

    "The range of vegetarian and vegan convenience foods has escalated massively. It's a lot more mainstream."

    And we know more about the health risks linked to eating too much processed and red meat, which has been linked to an increased risk of bowel cancer..

    So what should go on my plate?

    The NHS's the Eatwell Guide sets out the balance of foods you need, whatever kind of diet you eat:

    Eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day
    Base meals around higher-fibre starchy foods such as potatoes, bread, rice or pasta
    Don't forget protein - from lean meat, fish, seafood, pulses, tofu or unsalted nuts
    Include dairy or dairy alternatives
    Foods high in fat, sugars or salt should be eaten less often and in small amounts

    But people on vegan and vegetarian diets also need to take particular care to consume enough of some specific nutrients.

    For example, people who eat meat, dairy and fish usually have enough vitamin B12, needed for healthy blood and nervous systems.

    However, vegans can become deficient, though B12 is also present in foods such as fortified breakfast cereals and yeast extract spreads.

    Iron is also less easily absorbed from plant-based foods, so those who choose not to eat meat need to ensure they include foods such as wholemeal bread and flour, dried fruits and pulses.

    And there was a call last month for vegans to be aware of the need to ensure they were consuming enough of another nutrient, called choline, important for brain health.
    https://www.bbc.com/news/health-49579820
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  3. #2
    I think the healthiest diets consist of a little bit of lean meats, but high plant based diets. Mediterranean Diet seems to be overall healthiest diet if you are going to narrow it to one system. Healthy fatty oils, nuts and legumes, with lots of veggies and fruits. lean meat. If you can leave out the bread and dessert then God bless you.
    I will swear by this until the day i die but it's the Blue Zones' that have the answers to longevity.

    But who am I......I am terrible at diet.
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  4. #3
    Vegans get all wound-up over other peoples dietary habits..

    This could be part of their stress.

  5. #4
    Key word "may" have a higher risk. May not. Three in a thousand isn't much difference.

    They had 10 fewer cases of heart disease and three more strokes per 1,000 people compared with the meat-eaters.
    Looking at their numbers, they had a total of 258 vegetarians who reported a stroke. Three in a thousand increase in risk means that just one more vegetarian than expected in the study had a stroke. https://www.bmj.com/content/366/bmj.l4897

    One person is not statistically significant. 48,000 people participated in the study.

    Last edited by Zippyjuan; 09-05-2019 at 05:40 PM.

  6. #5
    Were the age groups in the study identified ?

    What amazes me is how some really heavy set people sometimes live into
    their late 80's + like BB King, and so many others, they should do a study
    on longevity for people that have hobbies, talents, driving-interests, purpose,
    things that keep them 'high on life' , and active.

    Diet is statistically relevant I'm sure, but there seem to be so many factors,
    and what good is living if we're hating life, not loving it.

  7. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by tod evans View Post
    Vegans get all wound-up over other peoples dietary habits..

    This could be part of their stress.
    They desire meat. The body makes them aggressive to be a good hunters. They won't hunt animals like their instincts desire so they take that anger on sane meat eaters
    ...

  8. #7
    My two brothers tried vegetarianism. They were jackasses with hunger for real food. To get back at them, I would stir fry thin sliced meat with garlic, ginger, etc. There are no plants that release the aroma from those spices like meat. I reformed them.

    There is a reason why vegans try to make soy taste like meat. There is also a reason no one attempts to make meat taste like soy. Humans utilize the nutrition in meat far more efficiently than soy. So that is why we crave meat.

    ETA: Most people crave meat. Some people are more designed for a heavily plant based diet. If eating properly, your body will tell you what you need.
    Last edited by RJB; 09-05-2019 at 06:08 PM.
    ...

  9. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by RJB View Post
    My two brothers tried vegetarianism. They were jackasses with hunger for real food. To get back at them, I would stir fry thin sliced meat with garlic, ginger, etc. There are no plants that release the aroma from those spices like meat. I reformed them.

    There is a reason why vegans try to make soy taste like meat. There is also a reason no one attempts to make meat taste like soy. Humans utilize the nutrition in meat far more efficiently than soy. So that is why we crave meat.

    ETA: Most people crave meat. Some people are more designed for a heavily plant based diet. If eating properly, your body will tell you what you need.
    That makes sense. I tried vegetarianism but I was hungry all the time. It's weird for me because I rarely feel hungry - even when I haven't eaten all day. I'm down to just eating an early dinner (lean meat or fish and lots of veg - mostly raw) and having a fruit/veg Popsicle if I want a snack later.

    Plug for my new favorite snack

    Outshine fruit bars (you can get fruit, fruit and veg, and yogurt)

    No GMO, No added sugar, low calorie, really good
    Mr A even loves them.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Origanalist View Post
    This intellectually stimulating conversation is the reason I keep coming here.



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  11. #9
    From Glancing at the chart, it seems that fish eaters are the winners.



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