Vegan diet not just good for hippie chicks
Researchers have found that following a low-fat vegan diet may do more to improve the health of type 2 diabetics than other traditional diets, including that recommended by the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
These benefits may include reduction of the need for medication, lower levels of cholesterol and more success in losing weight.
43 percent of type 2 diabetics studied who followed a vegan diet for 22 weeks showed a reduction in their need for medications to manage their diabetes, compared with only 26 percent who followed the ADA diet.
A vegan diet is wholly plant-based, consisting of vegetables, fruits, grains and legumes (the magical fruit) and does not contain any animal-based components like dairy or meat. Vegans are at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency and require vitamin supplements.
“The diet appears remarkably effective, and all the side effects are good ones — especially weight loss and lower cholesterol,” reports Dr. Neal D. Barnard, adjunct associate professor of medicine at the George Washington University and one of the study’s researchers. “I hope this study will rekindle interest in using diet changes first, rather than prescription drugs.”
In the interest of full disclosure and healthy skepticism, it should be pointed out that Dr. Barnard is also president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a nonprofit health organization that opposes animal research and advocates a vegan diet.
Also, it was reported on Fox News. I’m going to go have a burger now.
(via FOXNews.com, and yeah, I know…)
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POSTED IN: Research
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