Nutritionists take a stand on heart care

Several risk factors have been linked to heart diseases, but one that we can have most control of is nutrition. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) revealed how cholesterol, found in all animal-based food products (such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, cheese and yoghurt), has a specific role in heart disease. According to PCRM, choosing lean cuts of meat supposedly to avoid cholesterol is a myth; much of the cholesterol is, in fact, in the lean portion.

The American Dietetic Association, in 1988, issued a position stating: A considerable body of scientific data suggests positive relationships between vegetarian lifestyles and risk reduction for several chronic degenerative diseases and conditions, such as obesity, coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and colon cancer. Vegetarians also have lower rates of osteoporosis, lung cancer, breast cancer, kidney stones, gallstones and diverticular disease.

Reversal diet

Dr. Dean Ornish, author of “Program for Reversing Heart Disease,” said the reversal diet needs to be vegetarian in nature for the simple reason that cholesterol is only found in animal products. “Animal products also tend to be high in saturated fats, which your liver converts into cholesterol.”

Ornish dedicated half of his more than 600-page book to delectable vegetarian recipes.

Joel Fuhrman, MD, author of “Eat to Live,” says: “Scientific studies provide evidence that animal protein’s effect on blood cholesterol may be significant. This is one of the reasons those switching to a low-fat diet do not experience the cholesterol lowering they expect unless they also remove the low-fat animal products as well.”

Incidence of cancer

Eating meat, poultry and fish increases the risk of contracting ovarian cancer, according to preventive health expert Neil Nedley, MD. High intake of cholesterol has also been linked to an increased incidence of cancer, studies have shown.

Fuhrman adds that “red meat (beef and pork, among others) isn’t the only problem.” The consumption of chicken and fish is also linked to colon cancer. Dairy is also a major health concern on your hands, as well. Cow’s milk has been associated with coronary artery disease, cancer, neurologic diseases, allergies, digestive problems and infectious diseases.

Vegetarian diets

On July 26, 2012, a position paper by the Nutritionist-Dietitians’ Association of the Philippines cited “the nutrient adequacy of well-planned vegetarian diets,” which it said “can meet current recommendations for all nutrients. As evidence-based review showed that vegetarian diets can be nutritionally adequate for all stages of the lifecycle.”

It cited a study in the Journal of American Dietetic Association in 2009, which said vegetarians also appear to have lower LDL cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure and lower rates of hypertension and type 2 diabetes compared to meat eaters. Furthermore, vegetarians tend to have lower body mass index and lower overall cancer rates.

The features of a vegetarian diet that may reduce chronic disease include higher intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, soy products, fiber and phytochemicals.