In the U.S., many people consider themselves fortunate to have good health insurance. Preventive care is available without cost to most, and there are no annual or lifetime limits on healthcare coverage. Unfortunately, this could be misleading. Studies show that many Americans struggle with healthcare affordability, with deductibles and co-payments often consuming a considerable share of their income. Furthermore, many medical specialists believe that a vegan diet could offer healthier alternatives for people with certain medical conditions. However, is a vegan diet really worth it from a medical perspective? Does the evidence support a vegan diet for patients with heart disease, diabetes or cancer?
The Vegan Diet & Health
As early as the 1960s, physicians were suggesting that a vegan diet could be suitable for patients. At the time, there were no scientific studies available to confirm this theory. However, over the years, several studies have emerged examining the link between vegan diets and health.
A 2015 review of the scientific literature found that vegan diets could be recommended for patients with type 2 diabetes, heart disease or hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol). The evidence was most convincing for those with type 2 diabetes, as the review pointed out that there were over 20 clinical studies demonstrating the potential benefits of vegan diets for this group of patients.
The evidence also suggested that vegan diets may have important health benefits for older people. While there are no vegan-specific clinical trials for older people, numerous studies have looked at the relationship between dietary patterns and health outcomes in the aging population. One of these studies found that following a vegan diet may improve physical functioning, help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and even extend life.”However, these studies were all observational, so they couldn’t prove cause and effect,” said the review’s lead author, Dr. Steven Heywood. “It’s also important to keep in mind that not everybody will be able to follow a vegan diet, especially patients with certain health conditions. That being said, a vegan diet is a nutritious option that many individuals with medical conditions can follow.”
The Vegan Diet & Weight Loss
While there is some evidence that a vegan diet could be suitable for patients, it’s not exactly clear that this is the case for weight loss. In fact, numerous studies have found that vegan diets could be associated with weight gain, particularly in the first year of following the diet.
However, some individuals report weight loss while on vegan diets. In a study of 38 individuals with obesity, those who followed a vegan diet for 12 weeks lost more weight than those who followed an American Heart Association diet (AHA diet). The AHA diet is considered a healthy choice because it’s recommended for people with heart disease and diabetes. The study’s authors concluded that a vegan diet could be a viable option for those with obesity and a history of heart disease or diabetes.
There are several possible explanations for why a vegan diet could be effective for weight loss. First, some researchers believe that vegan diets could be better than standard American diets at encouraging people to eat more vegetables. These vegetables contain bioactive compounds known as phytochemicals, which have the ability to reduce cholesterol and triglycerides. Second, a vegan diet could be a suitable option for those with type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome, since it’s often suggested that those with these conditions lose weight. Third, some individuals have reported feeling less bloated following a vegan diet, so it could potentially be easier to lose weight. Finally, a vegan diet could be helpful for some people with an allergy or sensitivity to gluten, since several studies have shown that these diets reduce the level of antibodies that attack gluten in the body. The latter explanation is particularly important, since having celiac disease or gluten sensitivity is one of the main barriers to following a vegan diet. In fact, the inability to eat gluten has been cited as one of the reasons why people with celiac disease are sometimes unable to follow a vegan diet.
Heart Disease
One of the most compelling reasons to recommend a vegan diet to patients is the potential to prevent or delay the onset of cardiovascular disease. There is some evidence that a vegan diet could reduce cardiovascular disease in several different ways. First, it could increase the good cholesterol (HDL) in the blood. Second, it could reduce blood pressure and the risk of developing hypertension. Third, it could reduce the cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. Fourth, it could improve the functioning of the heart muscle, which would enable those with heart disease to have better quality of life. Finally, a vegan diet could reduce the risk of various types of cancer, since it has been suggested that those with cancer lose weight. Despite these health advantages, there is also the potential that a vegan diet could have negative effects. Patients who followed a vegan diet for several months experienced a sharp increase in their triglycerides and cholesterol levels. These are both important risk factors for heart disease. While there are no confirmed cases of individuals being hospitalized due to heart disease following a vegan diet, it’s still a major concern, particularly in the first year of following the diet.
Diabetes
A diabetes-friendly diet could also improve the lives of those with diabetes. There is some evidence that a vegan diet could reduce the risk of developing diabetes in those who already have the disease. First, those with diabetes who followed a vegan diet experienced improved blood sugar levels and a reduced risk of diabetic ketoacidosis, which is a more serious condition that can arise from uncontrolled diabetes. Second, a vegan diet could reduce the amount of insulin required by those with diabetes, since insulin is known to cause fluid retention, which can lead to weight gain and shortness of breath. Finally, a vegan diet could improve the cardiovascular system in those with diabetes, since hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) and hypertension (high blood pressure) are both common among those with diabetes. Despite these health advantages, there is also the potential that a vegan diet could have negative effects. Those with diabetes who followed the diet for several months experienced a sharp increase in their triglycerides and cholesterol levels. These are both important risk factors for heart disease. While there are no confirmed cases of individuals being hospitalized due to heart disease following a vegan diet, it’s still a major concern, particularly in the first year of following the diet.
Cancer
A diet rich in vegetables, fruit and plant-based foods could reduce the risk of developing several types of cancer. First, it could reduce the risk of colon cancer by increasing the amount of fiber in the diet. Second, it could reduce the risk of prostate cancer by increasing the antioxidants and phytochemicals in the diet. Third, the evidence suggests that a vegan diet could prevent the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma, which is a type of liver cancer. Fourth, a vegan diet could reduce the risk of endometrial cancer, which is a type of womb cancer. Finally, there is some evidence that a vegan diet could reduce the risk of ovarian cancer, which is a type of womb cancer.
Based on the evidence discussed above, it is evident that a vegan diet could offer a range of health benefits for patients. Most notably, it could reduce the risk of several types of cancer. Furthermore, individuals with certain medical conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, could see significant benefits from following a vegan diet. In these instances, the medical literature suggests that vegan diets should be considered for patients.
Summary
In conclusion, a vegan diet could be suitable for patients with several medical conditions, particularly those with heart disease, diabetes or hyperlipidemia. Despite this, there is still the potential that a vegan diet could have negative effects. Patients who followed a vegan diet for several months experienced a sharp increase in their triglycerides and cholesterol levels, which are both important risk factors for heart disease. Furthermore, those with diabetes who followed the diet for several months experienced an improvement in their blood sugar levels, as well as a reduced risk of diabetic ketoacidosis, which is a more serious condition that can arise from uncontrolled diabetes mellitus.
Based on the evidence discussed above, it is evident that a vegan diet could offer a range of health benefits for patients. Most notably, it could reduce the risk of several types of cancer. Furthermore, individuals with certain medical conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, could see significant benefits from following a vegan diet. Therefore, in these instances, the medical literature suggests that vegan diets should be considered for patients.