A vegetarian diet is a way of eating that excludes animal products such as meat, poultry, and seafood. In modern society, more and more people are adopting vegetarianism, and the demographic of vegetarians is getting younger. Vegetarianism is no longer a religion or dogma, and vegetarians do not have a sense of moral superiority. Choosing to be vegetarian is simply adopting a dietary habit that is beneficial to one's own health, respects other living beings, cares for the environment, and aligns with the laws of nature. Vegetarianism has gradually become a lifestyle that fits the trend of the times.
In recent years, scientists have conducted more and more research related to vegetarian diets. As early as 2013, a large-scale study conducted in the UK by researchers showed that compared to meat-eaters, vegetarians have a 30% lower risk of developing heart disease.
However, a report in the Times of India in April stated that eating a vegetarian diet may be detrimental to the brain, as people who do not eat meat have a six times higher probability of brain atrophy compared to meat-eaters. Researchers analyzed the reason, pointing out that vegetarians are most likely to have an insufficient intake of vitamin B12, as the best sources of this vitamin are meat, liver, milk, and fish, which are rich in it. Vitamin B12 deficiency can also lead to anemia and nervous system inflammation, and there are few ideal foods that can provide adequate nutrition for vegetarians.
Vegetarians are considered healthier than non-vegetarians, but a new study has questioned this assumption. The study found that compared to those who tend to eat a meatless diet, meat-eaters did not show a significant increase in the proportion of heart disease over a 10-year period.
Dr. Hyunseok Kim, an internal medicine resident at the New Jersey Medical School in Newark, stated that he would not say that a vegetarian diet cannot avoid cardiovascular risks, however, the benefits to the heart may not be as great as some people believe.
Dr. Kim noted that vegetarians do indeed have lower risks of obesity, high blood pressure, and metabolic syndrome, all of which are risk factors for heart disease. However, this may be because vegetarians are often younger and female, so their risk of heart disease was already lower to begin with.
The 2015 U.S. Dietary Guidelines pointed out that eating more fruits and vegetables is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, and eating more whole grains is also thought to reduce the risk.
Nutrition experts say they encourage people to adopt diet plans that are closer to vegetarianism.
Dr. Kim stated that this is a cross-sectional study, meaning it captures data at a single point in time, so it can have blind spots. Moreover, the study relies on participants self-reporting their dietary habits.