Many people around the world ascribe to a dairy-free, gluten-free, pescetarian, vegetarian, or vegan lifestyle. These are not “diets” to lose weight, but “dietary habits” and lifestyle choices that people make based on their dietary needs, religious, environmental, or personal beliefs.
A study done by Neurology found that 30% of a Buddhist community in Taiwan were vegetarian. The average age of the people who participated in this study were 50 years old, and none had had a prior stroke. Years later, during follow-up interviews “the vegetarians had only about half the risk of experiencing a stroke as the non-vegetarians.” Based on this study and various others, research supports “that plant-based diets help protect against all types of cardiovascular disease.”
Can’t give up meat completely? Don’t worry, it is not for everyone but try and go one day a week, or three meals throughout the week without meat. Here are some other resources to check out more health benefits of a plant-based lifestyle and ways to figure out what ‘diet’ might be best for you…
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/vegetarian-diet-linked-to-lower-stroke-risk
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-right-plant-based-diet-for-you
- https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/02/well/eat/vegetarian-diet-may-lower-stroke-risk.html?searchResultPosition=16
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326176#foods-to-avoid
