Pulses are a part of most traditional diets and are packed with health benefits
The pulse family consists of plants that produce a pod with seeds inside. They include beans, peas, chickpeas, lentils, soya beans, lupins, lotus, alfalfa and peanuts. An extensive scientific paper has just reviewed all the relevant research to find out exactly what pulses do for us.
The type of protein we eat matters more than we thought
The biggest study to date – with over 130,000 participants - of the effects of both plant and animal protein on human health produced surprisingly clear results.
A unique Polish study set out to investigate and compare the impact of diet on the blood fats and cholesterol in vegan and omnivorous volunteers. All participants were healthy, between 23 and 38 years old and not overweight. The aim was to discover whether diet influences the blood lipids (fats) to such an extent in healthy people that it can reduce or increase the risk of atherosclerosis – narrowing and hardening of the arteries – that leads to heart disease.
There are many studies showing how a vegan diet can reverse heart disease but the medical profession still needs persuading. A recent case study published in Case Reports in Cardiology provides an excellent example of the power of diet change.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the main causes of death and disability in the UK but it can be prevented with a healthy lifestyle. A study of 650 adults from the US and Canada found that those avoiding meat had significantly lower levels of risk factors for CVD.
Researchers looked at four diets: vegans, vegetarians, fish-eaters and meat-eaters and found that obesity, blood pressure and cholesterol levels were all lower in those avoiding meat, with vegans coming out best.
In 2017, 11 million deaths around the world were related to poor diet, even more than smoking, according to this major study.
Heart attacks and strokes were the main diet-related causes of death, followed by cancers and type 2 diabetes. The authors blame diets high in salt and low in fruit, wholegrains, nuts and seeds. They suggest that eating and drinking more sensibly could prevent one in five deaths globally.
