Vegetarianism has long been thought to be better at preventing disease than meat. However, researchers have found that adding small amounts of animal protein such as meat, eggs, and dairy to a vegetarian diet can prevent cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, according to the Daily Mail .
A vegetarian diet combined with a small amount of animal protein is a good way to help prevent disease.
Scientists from Tufts University (USA) collected data from 48,000 women, aged 38 to 59. Participants had no physical or mental health problems at the start of the study, and every 4 years they reported on their diets.
Results showed that, over about 30 years of follow-up, people who ate mainly plant protein including vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans, and consumed a small amount of animal protein, were 46% more likely to be healthy as they aged.
Specifically, they reduced their risk of many chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, cancer, diabetes and Parkinson's disease, according to the Daily Mail.
In contrast, people who consumed mainly animal protein, including beef, chicken, milk, fish and cheese, were 6% less likely to be healthy as they aged.
People who consume high amounts of animal protein tend to have more chronic diseases and poorer physical fitness, said lead study author Dr. Andres Ardisson Korat, a food scientist at Tufts University.
To have a healthy old age and live long, it is best for middle-aged people to absorb mainly vegetable protein, plus a small amount of animal protein.
This study is one of several recent studies showing that even for vegetarians, small amounts of animal protein are still needed to prevent chronic disease.
Many people believe that a vegetarian diet can help reduce the risk of certain cancers. But this way of eating also carries some health risks due to the lack of nutrients only found in animals.
For middle age, to improve health, the diet needs to be high in protein, said Dr. Ardisson Korat.
And protein sources are very important. To have a healthy old age and live long, it is best for middle-aged people to absorb mainly vegetable protein, plus a small amount of animal protein.
The healthiest people are vegetarians who also consume some animal protein, including sources like chicken and fish. Researchers recommend eating these foods for their iron and vitamin B12 content, which supports immune health, energy levels and brain function.
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