Are all meat-free diets actually healthy? Experts explain

 

A review of four decades of data has provided certain unique insights into the benefits of a plant-based diet. Researchers in Denmark foundvegetarian and vegan diets do a great job of reducing levels of cholesterol and fats in the blood that increase heart attacks.

The effect has been called "substantial". But although meat and dairy had a number of health benefits to boast about, experts said not all meat-free diets were actually healthy.

The research involved roughly 2,400 people from around the world. It collected data from the 30 trials since 1982 in which volunteers were asked to follow a specific diet, while researchers tracked its impact on their heart health.

The results showed vegetarian and vegan diets helped reduce total cholesterol by 7%, bad cholesterol by 10%, and apolipoprotein B (the key protein in bad cholesterol) by 14%.

High levels of bad cholesterol trigger heart attacks or strokes as they lead to fatty deposits building up in blood vessels.

Nevertheless, despite the health benefits, Prof Ruth Frikke-Schmidt, who conducted the work in Denmark, said anyone following such a plant-based diet should not come off drugs they have been prescribed because their heart is at risk.

Furthermore, it is important to note here that not all plant-based diets are the same. Volunteers involved in the trials were given "healthy" vegetarian and vegan food. Despite both being meat-free, sweets and sugary drinks are not the same as vegetables, fruits, nuts, and pulses.

Prof Frikke-Schmidt said people didn’t have to cross-off meat. The key is to opt for a mostly plant-based diet, as it's good both for health as well as the environment.