Over the years, scientists have debated the impact of vegan and lacto-ovo-vegetarian diets on weight loss and heart disease prevention with limited success. Although evidence supporting these diets has been accumulating, there seemed to be a missing link, one that could bring all the scientific findings together.
Recently, a team of doctors at Shandong University’s Qilu Hospital claims to have found this missing link.
Why this matters. The recent finding is crucial, especially with obesity becoming a major epidemic of the 21st century. Currently, 1.9 billion people are overweight. Of those, approximately 600 million are obese, and counting. This wouldn’t be too much of a problem if it wasn’t for the fact that “obesity and its associated complications not only lead to increased morbidity and mortality, but also to a reduced quality of life,” according to the Chinese study.
Wasn’t Ozempic the solution? Ozempic and other new weight loss drugs have significantly changed the society’s perception of obesity. These medications, as some experts point out, have helped people realize that metabolism and appetite are biological facts, not moral choices, with significant social consequences.
However, these drugs don’t provide a complete solution to the obesity problem. They’re costly, and their high prices create a barrier, especially for those with lower incomes and economic instability. Moreover, they can’t replace the need for healthier and more balanced lifestyle habits.
This is where the Qilu Hospital’s research comes into play.
In search of lost evidence. The Chinese researchers meticulously reviewed previous literature and identified 24 high-quality studies, comprising more than 2,000 participants. These randomized clinical trials led them to a significant discovery: a strong correlation between lower obesity and heart disease risk and the consumption of raw vegetables.
Even after factoring out genetic influences, this correlation remained robust.
“A plant-based diet is a viable option for people who want to control their body weight and improve the quality of their diet to prevent and treat metabolic diseases,” the team says.
How is it possible? The Chinese researchers have considered a few ideas, such as the diet’s high content of phytosterols and unsaturated fats, as well as its role in reducing inflammation and oxidative stress. However, the exact reasons aren’t very clear. In fact, this has historically been a major challenge in establishing a clear relationship between weight loss and veganism.
Nevertheless, with the data at hand, it appears that gradually increasing the consumption of vegetables (especially raw vegetables) may be a beneficial strategy. It seems to be even more beneficial than experts previously thought.
Image | Eric Prouzet (via Unsplash)
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