I am not so sure here. It is possible that many meat eaters convert to
vegetarianism after diagnoses. This
would hugely skew the numbers.
My own observation of a population of vegetarians
showed general good health and certainly scant sign of common degenerative
diseases. In fact the single best thing
that such a patient can do is to switch to vegetarianism. However that is usually done far too late to
stop the downward slide of diabetes or severe heart disease.
At the same time it is easy to augment a possibly nutrition
poor vegetarian diet with eggs particularly and even some fish. I bring this up because all vegetarian diets
are not equal. It is way too easy to
concentrate on beans and rice or pasta.
Promoting a deficiency has never
been the aim of vegetarianism but is often the result of simple poor choices or
limited choices.
Study: Vegetarians Less Healthy, Lower
Quality Of Life Than Meat-Eaters
April 1, 2014 3:23 PM
Vegetarians have a lower
BMI and drink alcohol sparingly, but vegetarian diets are tied to generally
poorer health, poorer quality of life and a higher need for health care than
their meat-eating counterparts. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
ATLANTA (CBS ATLANTA) – Vegetarians may have a lower BMI and drink alcohol
sparingly, but vegetarian diets are tied to generally poorer health, poorer
quality of life and a higher need for health care than their meat-eating
counterparts.
A new study from
the Medical University of Graz in Austria finds
that vegetarians are more physically active, drink less alcohol and smoke less
tobacco than those who consume meat in their diets. Vegetarians also have a
higher socioeconomic status and a lower body mass index. But the vegetarian
diet — characterized by a low consumption of saturated fats and cholesterol
that includes increased intake of fruits, vegetables and whole-grain products —
carries elevated risks of cancer, allergies and mental health disorders.
Vegetarians were twice as
likely to have allergies, a 50 percent increase in heart attacks and a 50
percent increase in incidences of cancer.
The cross-sectional study
from Austrian Health Interview Survey data and published in PLos One examined
participants dietary habits, demographic characteristics and general lifestyle
differences.
The most significant
dietary habit difference between meat-eaters and vegetarians concerned their
BMI and alcohol consumption – with both being higher for those who consume
meat.
Many past studies have
instead put an emphasis on the health risks associated with red meat and
carnivorous diets, but this study points the other dietary direction. However,
the researchers do caution that continuing studies will be needed to
substantiate some of the rather broad dietary distinctions, associations
presented in this current research.
Overall, vegetarians were
found to be in a poorer state of health compared to other dietary groups.
Vegetarians reported higher levels of impairment from disorders, chronic
diseases, and “suffer significantly more often from anxiety/depression.”
Subjects who consumed lower
amounts of animal fat were also linked to poor health care practices, such as
avoidance of vaccinations and a lack of preventive care.
Chronic problems
associated with vegetarians and people eating carnivorous diets rich in fruits
and vegetables were linked to more frequent visits to doctors, which the study
authors suggest requires public health programs to reduce the health risk due
to their nutritional factors.
The researchers conclude:
“Our study has shown that Austrian adults who consume a vegetarian diet are
less healthy (in terms of cancer, allergies, and mental health disorders), have
a lower quality of life, and also require more medical treatment.”
“Therefore, a continued
strong public health program for Austria is required in order to reduce the
health risk due to nutritional factors.”
The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention notes that healthy diets rich in fruits and vegetables
may reduce the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases for all dietary
groups. A 2009 study from the CDC found that about 1 in 200 young Americans, or
367,000 US children, are vegetarians.
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