Another study supports the mantra, “Be healthy, be vegetarian!” This is inferred by a new study that backs the efficacy of a diet rich in veggies, whole grains and fruits to promote good health.
This was revealed by a group of researchers of London's Imperial College. Their findings were that that people who eat their fill of plant foods are more likely to maintain better cardiovascular health than their carnivorous counterparts. The study can be viewed as a published work in the Archives of Internal Medicine.The scientists studied the relation between a protein intake based on vegetable sources on the BP of subjects and showed that the results bolstered the case of vegetarianism to promote cardiovascular health in adults.
The study sample comprised about 4,700 middle-aged adults across UK, US, China and Japan. Those whose diets were rich in vegetable proteins found that they tended to maintain lower blood pressure levels.
The most important conclusion was that even if the diets had a minor portion attributed to vegetable proteins the subjects faired well in terms of BP fall.
The direct relationship became evident when neither of the following viz, exercise, sodium intake or body weight affected the fall of BP.
The study was spearheaded by Dr. Paul Elliott who recommended that high blood pressure and related ills like kidney malfunction and heart disease could be prevented by consuming diets rich in plant-based foods.
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A questionnaire method was also used to study the lifestyle and health factors of the subjects. An interesting facet noted was that a dip was noted in average blood pressure levels as vegetable protein intake rose, the converse was noted was noted with raised animal protein intake. In high vegetable protein diets, the foods being rich in fibre and magnesium possibly accounted for some of the lowering effects on blood pressure.
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