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What does this study add?


Half of participants, recruited between 1993 and 2001, were meat-eaters, just over 16,000 vegetarian or vegan, with 7,500 who described themselves as pescatarian (fish-eating).

They were asked about their diets, when they joined the study and again in 2010. Medical history, smoking and physical activity were taken into account,


The pescatarians were found to have a 13% lower risk of CHD than the meat-eaters, while the vegetarians and vegans had a 22% lower risk.

But those on plant-based diets had a 20% higher risk of stroke. The researchers suggested this could be linked to low vitamin B12 levels but said more studies were needed to investigate the connection.


So does it show vegan and vegetarian diets are unhealthy?




Comment: Why is this the message? Nothing in the study, which was just rightly dismissed as not being able to show causation, indicates a variety of foods is superior. This advice doesn't mean anything. It's a typical dietitian non-answer.


Has what people eat changed since this study started?


But Dr Phillips says vegan and vegetarian diets will have changed.





So what should go on my plate?

  • Eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day
  • Include dairy or dairy alternatives

Comment: If you follow this advice, kiss your health goodbye. These guys haven't changed their dietary advice in half a century, despite the fact that the people's health is taking a nosedive, and despite the fact that a great deal of recent research goes against their advice. The old adage holds - the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.




