Doctors continue to remind us of the increased cardiovascular risk factors from eating red meat and other animal based products, and suggest we eat more vegetables to maintain good health. Environmentalists inform us how large production cattle ranches wreak havoc on the quality of our air and water, and urge us to go vegetarian. Animal rights activists protest the mistreatment of animals from dairy cows to egg laying chickens, in a concerted effort to promote total veganism.
With all of this anti-meat and animal rights campaigning, one might think eating animal products was just wrong, but new research suggests people who follow a vegan diet are at risk for developing blood clots and atherosclerosis, which are two conditions that can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
The vegan diet is completely free of any kind of animal products. That essentially means a vegan ingests absolutely nothing that comes from or is produced by an animal. Never are eggs, butter, sushi or chicken broth soup for the soul found on the diet list of a vegan. A diet of nuts, seeds and vegetables sounds like it could top the list of what is healthy to eat, yet this type of diet tends to be lacking in several important nutrients. Iron, zinc, vitamin B-12 and omega-3 fatty acids are difficult to acquire on a vegan diet, and these are key nutrients in helping to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. In addition, a vegan diet is very low in fat and, as a result, these strict vegetarians tend to have higher levels of homocysteine and lower levels of HDL, the good cholesterol, both of which also contribute to the risk of heart disease.
All of these findings, which have appeared in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, suggest that to maintain a healthy heart, vegans must at least increase their dietary consumption of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin B-12. Good sources of these nutrients can be found in nuts, but are more prevalent in meat and oily types of fish like wild salmon and mackerel. While vitamin and mineral supplements do contain everything we need, health experts suggest it is best to derive nutrients from the source.
For most people of average health, eating a little meat and a lot of veggies makes sense. As for the environment, there are sustainable ways to raise fish, beef and pork without harming our precious natural resources. And for the animal rights activists, it is a seriously tough call. Your heart may break when you take that first bite of fish, but at least it will be healthy.
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Wow! Six months after I dropped dairy and meat, my total cholesterol went from 225 to 154. My triglycerides went from 220 to 84. I was just going to try it so see how the blood work went. But now it’s been eighteen months, and I feel too great. My waist went from 36 to 32. I am trying to get family and friends to plant based, but It’s hard, even though all the statistics are there.
I’m starting doing vegetarian -ember 2019Since then cholestrol his lowest it’s ever been hdl came up try to this rides went down by about 30% created my very knowledgeable very highly respected cardiologist was very pleased. When I told him I was doing the vegetarian he said so good.He also said he’s continue the exercise cancel the Statin that I have been taking the low dose I had been taking for a short time.
I am not one that thinks cows cause environmental problems, I’m not a tree hugger, I even love hunting and fishing and not opposed to those want to eat meat.
Countless doctors\cardiologists ,including many that do vegan\vegetarian lives very long lives recommend vegetarian or very low fat diets.
Anyone can get you want to say something about it what or a survey Study To benefit their cause. More studies than not point to vegetarian diet being more helpful for you and yes some say mediterranean diet is the most healthy. Although certain types or really any type of oils can affect your arteries and the lining of the arteries.
I’m sticking to my vegetarian diet especially since my wife is excited about her weightless and lower cholesterol.
Guess I will go now cause I need to prepare to go shoot Bambi, catch Nemo and chop a few trees down. (Only cause it is needed) ; )
Please excuse any typos or bad grammar I used voice text and not checking accuracy.