Researchers from Oxford University found out that vegetarians have a lower risk of coronary heart disease compared to meat-eaters. However, they may have a greater risk of getting a stroke. However, the study “could not prove whether the results were down to diet or some other aspect of the participant’s lifestyle.”
The World Health Organization and other major scientific bodies have encouraged people to adopt a plant-based diet, or at least cut out meat due to its benefits to both personal health and the environment.
An increase in alternative meat and dairy foods made without animals is one of the defining food trends in recent years. However, as meatless diets take off, researchers say further scrutiny is important.
“Vegetarian and vegan diets have increased hugely in popularity over the past years … but we actually know very little about the potential health benefits or hazards of these diets,” said Dr Tammy Tong, lead author of the study.
The study, published in medical journal The BMJ, followed 48,000 people with no previous history of heart disease, angina and stroke between 1993 and 2001 before a follow-up survey in 2010.
Head over at the South China Morning Post to know more details about the study.
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