In the previous post we discussed the advantages of a vegetarian diet, but there are also drawbacks and precautions for this type of diet. Firstly, comment that vegetarian diets are diverse (more or less strict, and may or may not include dairy products and / or eggs), and the advice varies according to the person who follows it, adolescents and pregnant women are groups that pay special attention. People who follow vegetarian diets can get all the nutrients they need, although considerations about possible deficiencies of macronutrients (particularly proteins) and micronutrients (iron, calcium, zinc, folate, vit B12) must be taken into account, as can the possible existence of underlying eating disorders. A vegetarian diet can be a healthy option, the key is to eat a variety of foods and the correct amount.
MedlinePlus has a page specifically dedicated to the vegetarian diet that is highly recommended for both patients and healthcare professionals. If what we want is to give a brochure with healthy eating tips for vegetarians, Miplato is a good option. For those in whom the English language is not a problem, the USDA website is recommended, which has links to many resources, tips and associations on vegetarian diet.
For healthcare professionals interested in exploring this topic The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics published in September 2011 its evidence-based practical guide on vegetarian eating. After analyzing the scientific evidence on the subject, it has issued a series of recommendations on nutritional assessment, nutritional intervention with a vegetarian diet, and monitoring-evaluation. Each recommendation is graduated according to the studies that support it and the need to put it into practice.
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Advantages of the vegetarian diet
What do I say to my patient if he asks me about diet ...
Advantages of the vegetarian diet
Some of the patients we serve in our consultations are vegetarians or want to be. A recent study published in the 'American Journal of Clinical Nutrition' may reinforce your decision. This study has found that vegetarians may have about a third less risk of hospitalization or death from cardiovascular disease than non-vegetarians.
This is a follow-up study (from 1990 to 2009) that included almost 45,000 people from England and Scotland, of whom around a third were vegetarians, who were measured, among other parameters, their cholesterol levels, pressure arterial and the diagnoses of disease and death due to cardiac causes during those years were studied. The authors found that vegetarians were 32 percent less likely to be hospitalized or die of heart disease than people who ate meat or fish. Vegetarians had lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels than non-vegetarians, the authors claiming that most of the difference in risk is likely caused by the effects on cholesterol and blood pressure of the vegetarian diet. Furthermore vegetarians also tended to be slimmer and had fewer cases of diabetes, but these two factors were found not to significantly affect the study results. The authors point out some limitations to the study, including that showing an association between a meatless diet and better heart health does not mean causality, and that the vegetarians included in the study were younger than carnivores (abstract in Spanish MedlinePlus) .
The dangers of consuming red meat have already been mentioned in this blog. The advantages of the vegetarian diet were noted by a 2009 American Dietetic Association review: "The results of an evidence-based review indicated that a vegetarian diet is associated with a lower risk of death from ischemic heart disease. Vegetarian people also appear to have lower cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, lower blood pressure, and lower rates of hypertension and type 2 diabetes than the non-vegetarian population. Also, vegetarians tend to have a lower body mass index and lower cancer rates overall. ”
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