5 New Food Facts

Five studies published this week provide more evidence that eating well (and vegan) is the best way to stay healthy.

1. Probiotics may be harmful to your health.

Taking probiotics may interfere with your immune system. The results of this small study, show that probiotics, like many other supplements, may be more harmful than helpful. Taking probiotics changes the balance of good bacteria in the gut and changes the immune response.

Probiotics ingredients can vary widely. Even different batches from the same manufacturer can vary. There are no standards for the potency of the ingredients in probiotics or between different batches.

The gut microbiome plays a substantial role in our health making probiotics a popular supplement. The probiotic supplement business is worth more than $36 billion dollars and is virtually unregulated.

2. Some food additives interfere with your immune system.

A common food additive found in cooking oils, frozen meats and processed foods reduces the effectiveness of the flu vaccine. Tert-butylhydroquinone, or tBHQ slowed the reaction of immune cells to infection. This preservative does not need to be on the ingredient list in foods. It does seem to slow the bodies ability to recognize a virus and fight it off.

3. Vegans have healthier biomarkers than vegetarians

Researchers at Loma Linda University studied different diets to understand the effect on health. They wanted to know if eating a different diet would have an effect on the levels of disease-fighting markers. These markers are found in the blood, urine and body fat. They studied these markers in people eating a vegan, vegetarian, semi-vegetarian and nonvegetarian diet.

The results show that only vegans have higher levels of bioactive markers that prevent disease. The vegans also had the highest levels of Omega-3 and the lowest levels of fatty acids.

Lead author Faith Myles, Ph.D says,

“An awareness that a healthier biomarker profile is obtained with a plant-based diet should motivate people to be proactive about dietary habits that promote good health and prevent disease.”

4. Switching to plant proteins reduces your risk of early death.

Research published in the journal Circulation compared meat eaters with those eating a plant-based diet. They found that those eating a plant-based diet had reduced risk of heart disease.

Eating a plant-based diet lowered blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, and lipoproteins, all cardiovascular risk factors when compared to meat eaters.

5. Animal protein increases your risk of death.

Research in Finland found that men eating more animal protein increase their risk of early death by 23% when compared to men who limited their protein intake.

The study was on men in their 50s. The men that already had type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease or cancer had an increased risk of premature death than those without pre-existing conditions.

Five more good reasons to eat a plant-based diet, limit your intake of processed foods and don’t rely on supplements for good health.

Change your mind, change your health,

Shayla