True or False: Men that enjoy a vegetarian diet have a lower risk for death from any cause?
Answer: True
Research showed for men that adhered to a vegetarian diet, death from heart disease (cardiovascular mortality) was significantly lower reported online in JAMA Internal Medicine*.
“Vegetarian dietary patterns have been associated with reductions in risk for several chronic diseases, such as hypertension, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, and ischemic heart disease, which might be expected to result in lower mortality,” they wrote.
Past studies offered conflicting results however this study enlisted over 73,000 men and women (mean age was 58, and approx. two-thirds were women). Specific classification based on diet using definition of ‘vegans’ diet for this study meant if eggs, dairy, fish, and meat were avoided; ‘lacto-ovo-vegetarians’ if they ate eggs and dairy but avoided fish and meat; ‘pesco-vegetarians’ consumed fish but not meat; and ‘semi-vegetarian’ if they ate fish or meat no more than once weekly. They also included approx 1/2 of participants that were nonvegetarians. Individuals were followed for over 5 years,
Risk all-cause mortality was significantly reduced for men, but not significant statistically for women. To varying degrees of their was benefit from any type of vegetarian diet.
No matter what you read about diets all nutritional experts agree that any diet should limit sugars (including drinks, corn starch), refined grains, and large amounts of saturated and trans fats.
Use medical common sense when you eat!
*Orlich M, et al “Vegetarian dietary patterns and mortality in Adventist Health Study 2” JAMA Intern Med 2013; DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.6473.trials
