Alert: Vegetarian and vegan diets increase strokes

The research, published in the British Medical Journal, involved 48,000 people for 18 years.

Vegans and vegetarians reported 10 less cases of coronary artery disease per 1000 population, compared to those who eat meat, but three more cases of stroke.

The nutrition experts involved pointed out that, beyond the diet chosen by all, the best way to be healthy is to consume a wide variety of foods.

What does this study add?

The researchers badyzed data from the EPIC-Oxford study, the largest long-term research project focusing on diet and health.

Half of the participants, recruited between 1993 and 2001, ate meat, 16,000 were vegetarians or vegans, and 7,500 described themselves as "pescetarians" (vegetarians eating fish).

When they joined the study, they were asked about their diet and then again in 2010.

Medical history, whether smoking or not, and physical activity were also taken into account.

In total, there were 2,820 cases of coronary heart disease and 1,072 strokes, including 300 bleeding strokes, that occur when a weakened artery explodes and begins to bleed into the brain.

The badysis revealed that the risk of coronary heart disease was 13% lower in pescetarians than in meat consumers, while the risk was 22% lower for vegetarians and vegans.

But those who followed a vegetable-based diet were 20% more likely to develop a stroke.

It is also possible that the link is not related to diet or other aspects of lifestyle.

Does this show that vegan and vegetarian diets are unhealthy?

Frankie Phillips, a doctor from the British Dietetic Association, says no because it is an observational study.

"We observed what the participants ate and followed for years, so it's an badociation, not a cause-and-effect relationship," he said.

"The message, for everyone, is that it makes sense to follow a well-planned diet and eat a variety of foods."

"Meat consumers do not necessarily have a varied diet because they can still eat meat with potatoes and not eat vegetables."

Has it changed what people eat since the beginning of the study?

The researchers again contacted study participants in 2010 to question them again about their diet.

But Phillips says vegan and vegetarian diets have changed.

"This is information gathered about twenty years ago.It is very possible that the current vegetarian or vegan diet is very different from that of 20 or 30 years ago," he said. he.

"Vegetarian and vegan food stores have also mushroomed, and today they are more popular."

And we know more about the health risks badociated with excessive consumption of processed foods and red meat, which have been badociated with an increase in colon cancer.

What should you eat then?

The "Guide to Eating Well" from the UK's National Health Service (NHS) specifies the balance of the foods you need, no matter what your diet:

* Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day.

* Prepare meals based on high fiber foods and starch, such as potatoes, bread, rice or pasta.

* Do not forget the proteins (meat without fat, fish, seafood, tofu or nuts without salt).

* Includes dairy products or substitutes.

* Foods high in fat, sugar or salt should be consumed less often and in less quantity.

In particular, those who follow a vegan or vegetarian diet should make sure to consume enough of certain nutrients.

For example, people who normally eat meat, dairy products and fish usually have enough vitamin B12, which is necessary for the health of the blood and the nervous system.

However, vegans may suffer from deficiencies, although vitamin B12 is present in foods such as fortified breakfast cereals and yeast spreads.

Iron is also harder to absorb by vegetarian foods. Therefore, those who have chosen not to eat meat should be sure to include foods such as bread and whole wheat flour, nuts and legumes in their diet.

Vegans were also alerted last month to make sure they were consuming enough of another nutrient called choline, important for brain health.

BBC