Vegan diets ‘help people shed pounds and lower blood sugar levels’
A study holds out hope for the obese and those with Type 2 diabetes
ACCORDING TO THE NHS, PEOPLE CAN GET MOST OF THE NUTRIENTS THEY
NEED FROM EATING A VARIED AND BALANCED VEGAN DIET. THIS INCLUDES AT LEAST FIVE PORTIONS OF A VARIETY OF FRUIT
AND VEGETABLES EVERY DAY, WITH MEALS INCLUDING POTATOES, BREAD, RICE, PASTA OR OTHER STARCHY CARBOHYDRATES.
Vegan diets can help overweight people or those with Type 2 diabetes shed pounds and lower blood sugar levels, according to a new study. Experts presented evidence at the European Congress on Obesity in Maastricht showing that adhering to a vegan diet for at least 12 weeks could boost weight loss and improve blood sugar control.
A vegan diet contains only plants (such as vegetables, grains, nuts and fruits) and foods made from plants. Vegans do not eat foods that come from animals, including dairy products and eggs.
The data, taken from 11 randomised trials, covered 796 people, including those who were overweight (with a body mass index BMI - of at least 25) or who had Type 2 diabetes (including pre-diabetic state).
The studies showed that, in comparison with control diets, vegan diets reduced body weight (on average by about 4.1kg), and also led to a drop in BMI and lower blood sugar levels.
Further analysis showed there were greater reductions in body weight and BMI when vegan diets were compared with people’s normal food intake than if they were compared to other diet plans to lose weight, such as portion control or a Mediterranean diet.
There was little or no effect of vegan diets on blood pressure, cholesterol an triglycerides (a type of fat stored in fa cells). According to the NHS, people can get most of the nutrients they need from eating a varied and balanced vegan diet This includes at least five portions of variety of fruit and vegetables ever day, with meals including potatoes bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbo hydrates.
People should also have some dair alternatives, such as soya drink and yoghurts, as well a beans, pulses and other pro teins.
The new study, from Anne-Ditte Termannsen and colleagues at th Steno Diabetes Centr
in Copenhagen Denmark, has not ye been peer-reviewed o published in a medica journal. “This rigorou assessment of the bes available evidence to dat indicates with reasonable cer tainty that adhering to a vegan diet fo at least 12 weeks may result in clinicall meaningful weight loss and improv blood sugar levels, and therefore can b used in the management of overweigh and Type 2 diabetes,” she said.
“Vegan diets likely lead to weight los because they are associated with reduced calorie intake due to a lowe content of fat and higher content o dietary fibre. However, more evidence i needed regarding other cardiometaboli outcomes.”