Chennai: Vegan diets can help control obesity and regulate blood pressure, suggests a new study published in the journal Nutrients. The study suggests that a plant-based diet can impact an individual’s health positively by fostering the presence of certain gut hormones.
The study conducted by the researchers from the Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, the Institute of Endocrinology in Prague, Czech Republic, and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine in Washington, states that a Vegan diet helps to regulate blood pressure and controls obesity.
The researchers compared the impact of a plant-based meal and the impact of a meal that includes animal-derived products on a person’s health.
The controlled study was done on 60 male participants, 20 with a diagnosis of obesity, 20 diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and 20 with no health complaints.
The participants were randomly split and a group was served a vegan meal with tofu, while others ate a meal of processed meat and cheese. Both the meals were matched for the number of calories and macronutrients.
It was found that people who ate the vegan meal had a higher level of beneficial gut hormones than the people who ate meat and cheese, irrespective of their health complications. Research findings suggest that a vegan diet helps to foster the presence of certain gut hormones that help to regulate blood pressure. These gut hormones make a person feel fuller soon, which helps in controlling obesity.
“These beneficial gut hormones can help keep weight down, enhance insulin secretion, regulate blood sugar, and keep us feeling full longer,” says co-author Dr. Hana Kahleova.
Obesity and Diabetes are a rising concern in the country, with dietary and lifestyle factors being a major reason behind the rise of non-communicable diseases. Medicos say that a large population of people does not consume enough vegetables, fruits, dairy products, or oils.
Dieticians say that plant based foods have more fiber content that helps a person feel fuller sooner, and also keeps a check on extra calories.
