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Eating More Plants and Less Meat Lowers Blood Pressure, Study Finds...Changing to a complete vegetarian diet isn't necessary to heart health benefits, discover researchers
The Epoch Times ^ | By Mat Lecompte August 13, 2020 Updated: August 13, 2020

Posted on 08/13/2020 6:40:57 AM PDT by Red Badger

New research finds that a plant-based diet can lower blood pressure even if small amounts of meat and dairy are also consumed. The study from the University of Warwick suggests that any effort to eat more plant-based foods can benefit blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart attacks.

Researchers reviewed 41 studies involving 8,416 participants, which included the effects of seven different plant-based diets on blood pressure. These included the DASH diet, Mediterranean, Vegetarian, Vegan, Nordic, high fiber, and high fruit and vegetables. The clinical trials offered a systematic review which concluded that most of these diets were able to reduce blood pressure. Overall, the DASH diet had the most significant effect, lowering blood pressure by 5.53/3.79 mmHg compared to a control diet, and by 8.74/6.05 mmHg when compared to a “usual” diet.

Lead author Joshua Gibbs said, “A blood pressure reduction of the scale caused by higher consumption of plant-based diets, even with limited animal products would result in a 14 percent reduction in strokes, a 9 percent reduction in heart attacks and a 7 percent reduction in overall mortality.”

“This is a significant finding as it highlights that complete eradication of animal products is not necessary to produce reductions and improvements in blood pressure. Essentially, any shift towards a plant-based diet is a good one.”

Researchers noted that the adoption of a plant-based diet could not only improve health but could also play a role in global food sustainability and security. If more people ate more plant-based foods and less meat, it would reduce land use for food production, reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to global water conservation. The Leading Risk Factor

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a common condition in which the long-term force of the blood against the artery walls is high enough to eventually cause health problems, such as heart disease. It is currently the leading risk factor for heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular diseases. An unhealthy diet can contribute to high blood pressure and is responsible for more deaths and disabilities globally than tobacco use, high alcohol intake, and drug use put together.

This study helps to outline the health benefits of following a plant-based diet. A plant-based diet is based around the consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds and limits the consumption of most or all animal products including meat and dairy. Previous research has shown that increased consumption of whole grains, vegetables, nuts and seeds, and fruit could avert up to 4.9 million deaths globally respectively every year.

Vegetarian and vegan diets with a complete absence of animal products have previously been shown to lower blood pressure compared to omnivorous diets. However, until now, it has not been known whether a complete absence of animal products is necessary for plant-based dietary patterns to gain a significant beneficial effect on blood pressure.

Overall, researchers suggest following a plant-based diet with small amounts of animal products. This can offer maximum health benefits and help to lower the risk of high blood pressure.

Mat Lecompte is a freelance health and wellness journalist. This article was first published on Bel Marra Health.


TOPICS: Agriculture; Business/Economy; Food; Gardening; Health/Medicine; Science; Society
KEYWORDS: cookery; eatingtastyanimals; nutrition; peta
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To: Lurkina.n.Learnin

Yes, I’ve been a Second Hand Vegetarian all my life!...............


21 posted on 08/13/2020 7:00:24 AM PDT by Red Badger (Jesus said "There is no marriage in Heaven." That's why they call it Heaven............)
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To: Red Badger

In 20 years, eating meat will he looked at like smoking is today. I just see the signs right in front of us.


22 posted on 08/13/2020 7:10:19 AM PDT by napscoordinator (Trump/Hunter, jr for President/Vice President 2016)
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To: Red Badger

Headline: A balanced diet is good for your health!

stop the presses!


23 posted on 08/13/2020 7:12:43 AM PDT by PGR88
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To: napscoordinator

Already like that in California....................


24 posted on 08/13/2020 7:13:45 AM PDT by Red Badger (Jesus said "There is no marriage in Heaven." That's why they call it Heaven............)
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To: Red Badger

I was about 6 lbs overweight when my 40 lbs overweight husband decided to go keto and I joined him to keep him going in the right direction and my blood pressure has gone down. Most days it is around 100/60. I always had low blood pressure until I hit 60 and it started fluctuating and rarely went below 120/80.

His bp has always been right on the mark but had started to rise and now it has returned to normal.

I don’t know if it is the loss of weight or the diet or the exersise routine.


25 posted on 08/13/2020 7:17:18 AM PDT by tiki (Obamagate)
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To: cdcdawg

LOL..or staying to hell away from some threads on this site.


26 posted on 08/13/2020 7:18:35 AM PDT by crz
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To: Red Badger

Funny thing is, since going Keto, I actually eat more vegetables than before. They’re just the low-carb ones.


27 posted on 08/13/2020 7:19:39 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: Red Badger

I have to admit the times I fasted for spiritual reasons with my church’s annual fsst I felt better and lost between 10 and 15 pounds in 21 days. I could tell something was missing from my diet however...I’m definatly a carnivore.


28 posted on 08/13/2020 7:20:49 AM PDT by V_TWIN
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To: Texas resident
Losing weight is one of the most effective way to lower BP.

As Dr Berg says, "You don't lose weight to get healthy, you get healthy to lose weight", the weight is just a symptom.

29 posted on 08/13/2020 7:21:21 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: Red Badger
For Every Animal You Don’t Eat, I’m Going To Eat Three!
30 posted on 08/13/2020 7:21:57 AM PDT by yuleeyahoo (The nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master and deserves one. Hamilton)
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To: V_TWIN

I do IF and OMAD, it’s pretty much a breeze once you’re fat adapted.

I am thinking about starting to do multi-day fasts, haven’t quite gotten there yet.


31 posted on 08/13/2020 7:22:31 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: tiki

All three...............


32 posted on 08/13/2020 7:23:23 AM PDT by Red Badger (Jesus said "There is no marriage in Heaven." That's why they call it Heaven............)
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To: Red Badger

I will not comply. Will they try to force us?


33 posted on 08/13/2020 7:31:00 AM PDT by backwoods-engineer (Politics is the continuation of war by other means. --Clausewitz)
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To: backwoods-engineer

“It appeared that there had even been demonstrations to thank Big Brother for raising the MEAT ration to twenty grams a week. And only yesterday […] it had been announced that the ration was to be reduced to twenty grams a week. Was it possible that they could swallow that, after only twenty-four hours? Yes, they swallowed it. [...] The eyeless creature at the other table swallowed it fanatically. Passionately, with a furious desire to track down, denounce, and vaporize anyone who should suggest that last week the ration had been thirty grams. Syme, too - in some more double complex way, involving doublethink-Syme, swallow it. Was he, then, alone in the possession of a memory?”


34 posted on 08/13/2020 7:34:49 AM PDT by Red Badger (Jesus said "There is no marriage in Heaven." That's why they call it Heaven............)
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To: Red Badger

Humans are designed to eat both meat and vegetables, in reasonable proportions. Reasonable meaning mostly vegetables, with some of the other four groups (pizza, ice cream, bacon, and chocolate).


35 posted on 08/13/2020 7:47:29 AM PDT by Telepathic Intruder
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To: Red Badger

Not surprised. Unfortunately, what happens in California, spreads across the country.


36 posted on 08/13/2020 8:00:23 AM PDT by napscoordinator (Trump/Hunter, jr for President/Vice President 2016)
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To: rktman

Excercise is just as important


37 posted on 08/13/2020 8:03:30 AM PDT by Truthoverpower (The guv-mint you get is the Trump winning express ! Yea haw ! Trump pence II!)
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To: Red Badger

Sacred Cow: The Case for (Better) Meat: Why Well-Raised Meat Is Good for You and Good for the Planet
https://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Cow-Better-Well-Raised-Planet/dp/1948836912

from the description:

“We’re told that if we care about our health—or our planet—eliminating red meat from our diets is crucial. That beef is bad for us and cattle farming is horrible for the environment. But science says otherwise.”

“Beef is framed as the most environmentally destructive and least healthy of meats. We’re often told that the only solution is to reduce or quit red meat entirely. But despite what anti-meat groups, vegan celebrities, and some health experts say, plant-based agriculture is far from a perfect solution. In Sacred Cow, registered dietitian Diana Rodgers and former research biochemist and New York Times bestselling author Robb Wolf explore the quandaries we face in raising and eating animals—focusing on the largest (and most maligned) of farmed animals, the cow.”

“Taking a critical look at the assumptions and misinformation about meat, Sacred Cow points out the flaws in our current food system and in the proposed “solutions.” Inside, Rodgers and Wolf reveal contrarian but science-based findings, such as:

-Meat and animal fat are essential for our bodies.
-A sustainable food system cannot exist without animals.
-A vegan diet may destroy more life than sustainable cattle farming.
-Regenerative cattle ranching is one of our best tools at mitigating climate change.”

I heard one of the authors talk about how he was viciously attacked in an ad hominem manner by scientists who are promoting vegetarianism/veganism and are not interested in a scientific debate, but simply want to silence any discussion of facts contrary to their position.

It is beginning to look like vegetarianism/veganism is something that bolshevik government bureaucrats and the fake news media will try to simply impose on populations by law and force, using fake science.

We just had 50 years of a public health disaster because of the US government dietary guidelines which was pushed on us initially by leftwinger Senator George McGovern.

And with socialized medicine, the government will claim the right to complete tyranny over food choices in order to “save healthcare costs” and “save the environment.”


38 posted on 08/13/2020 9:00:23 AM PDT by Meet the New Boss
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To: Red Badger

Eat less meat... more for me.


39 posted on 08/13/2020 9:02:18 AM PDT by jetson (chiwowa)
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To: Red Badger

What about the coffee, donuts and Slim Jims diet? How’s that compare?


40 posted on 08/13/2020 9:20:52 AM PDT by Boogieman
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