The vegetarian diet is not necessarily good for the heart, according to the results of a study published in the medical journal Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Only those made up of seeds, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, tea and good fats can keep your heart healthy. A vegetarian diet rich in refined sugars and bad fats increases the risk of heart disease.
Choosing the right vegetarian diet
Researchers from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health in the United States conducted a study with 200,000 participants, without cardiovascular disease, stroke and cancer, to understand the benefits of diet on the incidence of coronary heart disease.
During follow-up, 8,631 participants developed coronary artery disease. Overall, adherence to a plant-based diet was associated with a lower risk of heart disease. A diet rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, etc. has been associated with a much lower risk of heart disease. However, a plant-based diet high in sugary drinks, refined grains, potatoes, and refined sugars had the opposite effect.
Indeed, following a healthy vegetarian diet is associated with a 25% reduced heart risk and eating an unhealthy vegetarian diet is associated with a 32% increased risk of heart disease.
“Being a vegetarian isn’t always healthy,” write the authors from Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, pharmaceutical company AbbVie and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, “some of these diets may indeed increase the risk of heart disease.” . While most research lumps several types of “plant-based” diets together under the heading “vegetarian”, with the growing acceptance of these types of diets, it becomes important to consider the specificities of each of these diets. . Especially because not all plant-based diets are healthy and nutritious.
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