Vegetarian food is on the rise. Is it simply a fashion that will disappear over time or a model to follow to live better?
By Boris Hansel, with Guillaume Paret (video)
video-dailymotion-unloaded" data-playerid="x2qwq" data-videoid="x8iracq" data-ads-params="rubrique%3DSante%26statut_article%3Dgratuit%26dossier%3Dla_sante_dans_vos_assiettes%26thematique%3DSante%26motcle%3DSant%C3%A9%26position%3Dhaut"/>
Published on
Subscriber-only audio playback
Every Friday, find, on lepoint.fr, the nutrition chronicle of Pr Boris Hansel, endocrinologist and nutritionist at Bichat Hospital in Paris. He is also the host of the PuMS health channel on YouTube.
Is a vegetarian diet compatible with good health? Everyone has their own opinion, but science provides surprising answers. We will understand this together. Note that there is not one, but many vegetarian diets: from the simple exclusion of meat to a vegan diet that excludes all products of animal origin, including honey.
For most vegetarians, this means substantially increasing plant products and reducing meat and fish. Others choose to exclude meat and fish, but also everything that comes from the animal, in particular milk and eggs. This type of diet seems to be associated with a health benefit, with some caveats, however.
As far as cardiovascular diseases are concerned, a 30% reduction in mortality linked to damage to the coronary arteries is globally observed with vegetarian diets. Be careful, we cannot scientifically compare the effect of different forms of vegetarian or vegan food. Concerning cancers, many data suggest the protection conferred by a diet very rich in plant products, for example against cancers of the colon and pancreas.
The downsides of vegetarianism
So there are reasons to think that vegetarianism is a good idea for maintaining good health. But be careful, however, there are some reservations, in particular because of possible deficiencies in certain nutrients, the consequences of which can be serious, with, among other things, the risk of fractures. This is what is suggested by scientific work that establishes a link between vegetarian diet and osteoporosis. This fragility of the bone would be the consequence of a lack of supply of calcium, proteins and vitamins such as vitamin B12. It all depends on the foods you exclude. If the risk of deficit is real in the vegan diet, it is less marked if one consumes dairy products. And even lower if you keep eggs and fish in your diet.
READ ALSOShould we stop drinking sparkling water?
In the end, even if we have arguments to promote a vegetarian diet in the prevention of chronic diseases and to live longer in good health, it is still difficult to prove that it is indeed the elimination of foods of animal origin that is beneficial. Because people who follow a vegetarian diet are generally more athletic and more attentive to their health than others.
In practice, a vegetarian and even vegan diet is probably beneficial. In any case, it is certainly not harmful provided you maintain a maximum variety of foods and, if you choose to totally exclude animal products, consult a nutrition specialist who will help you not to miss any nutrients!
