Vegetarianism: Study Finds Plant-Based Diet Rapidly Improves Heart Health - Here's the Science

 

plant based diet

Vegetarianism: Study Finds Plant-Based Diet Rapidly Improves Heart Health - Here's the Science

 

Going vegan: Although not everyone chooses to follow a vegan 

diet, scientists claim that small changes can improve heart health.

Recent Study

In a recent study, researchers from Stanford University compared 

the cardiovascular health benefits of veganism to those of an 

omnivore diet. These are the conclusions they reached.

 

Using identical twin pairs to reduce the number of variables, the 

study—which was published in JAMA Network Open—found that 

following an eight-week vegan diet significantly improved 

cardiovascular health.

The senior author of the study, Dr. Christopher D. Gardner, outlined 

the approach's distinctiveness as follows: "We found the concept of 

working with identical twins to be really intriguing.

The genomes of identical twins are precisely matched when they are 

randomly assigned to two research arms, and there's a good chance 

that many other aspects are matched as well because these pairs 

shared numerous similarities, including growing up in the same 

homes and neighborhoods."

 

Twenty-two pairs of twins participated in the study; for two months, 

one twin ate a vegan diet while the other ate an omnivorous diet. 

Fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains were all included in 

both diets, but refined grains and added sugars should be avoided.

Vegan Group

Remarkably, the vegan group shed an average of 4.2 pounds more 

than the omnivore group and showed a 20% drop in fasting insulin 

levels.

Considering that both groups' members were typically in good 

health, Dr. Gardner expressed surprise at the notable discrepancies 

found. The study focused on how quickly adopting a more plant-

based diet can improve risk variables related to cardiometabolic 

diseases.

 

Though not everyone chooses to follow a vegan diet, health 

professionals concur that even little changes can have a good effect 

on cardiovascular health. Interventional cardiologist Dr. Cheng-Han 

Chen emphasized the heart-healthy elements of a vegan diet, which 

include whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes.