This Article is From Aug 24, 2017

Vegetarian Diets May Now Help Lower Your Cholesterol: Study

Most people today have turned to vegetarianism as it is associated with leading a healthy life. Now, there is more reason to switch to a vegetarian diet. Turns out, a plant-based vegetarian diet is associated with lower cholesterol levels

Vegetarian Diets May Now Help Lower Your Cholesterol: Study

Highlights

  • Most people today have turned to vegetarianism
  • A plant-based vegetarian diet is associated with lower cholesterol level
  • High cholesterol is one of the primary reasons for heart diseases
Vegetarianism is the newest trend people follow nowadays as it is associated with leading a healthy life. Now, you have another reason to switch to vegetarian diet. Turns out, a plant-based vegetarian diet is associated with lower cholesterol levels. According to a study published in Nutritional Reviews, the reductions were greater as compared to that of omnivorous diets. Plant-based vegetarian diets contain no meat and are made of vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, whole grains and fruits. An omnivorous diet, however, has both plant and animal foods included.

The findings suggested that a vegetarian diet is associated with total cholesterol that is 29.2 milligrams per deciliter. In clinical trials, this diet lowered total cholesterol by 12.5 mg/dL.

High cholesterol is one of the primary reasons for heart diseases. High levels of bad cholesterol can increase the risk of a stroke. Cholesterol is a fatty substance known as a lipid and is vital for the normal functioning of the body. However, there are different kinds. And what's known as bad cholesterol can pose serious health threats. The researchers believe that the link may be due to the association of a vegetarian diet with a lower body weight, a reduced intake of saturated fat and an increased intake of plant foods that are naturally rich in components like soluble fiber, plant sterols and soy protein.

"The immediate health benefits of a plant-based diet, like weight loss, lower blood pressure, and improved cholesterol, are well documented in controlled studies," said study author Susan Levin. "Our goal with studying plasma lipids throughout the lifespan is to capture the net risk reduction of using a vegetarian diet to control lipid levels. We hope to empower patients with new research about the long-term cardiovascular health benefits of a vegetarian diet, which include a reduced risk of a heart attack, stroke, and premature death."

The study has also found out that consuming oats regularly can lead to a decrease of five to ten percent.

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