Rosalee Brown
Recent findings have added to the many other studies which underscore the numerous benefits of a vegan diet. A vegan diet is one which does not include animal products, unlike other types of vegetarian diets which allow some form of animal proteins.
The lacto-vegetarian diet allows dairy foods and the lacto-ovo, dairy and eggs. The vegans, however, get their proteins from a wide variety of plant foods, which include peas, beans, nuts, cereals, among other plant foods. Vegans usually take vitamin B12 supplements as the major sources of vitamin B12 are from animal origin.
This way of eating has been associated with positive health conditions such as a healthy weight, normal blood pressure levels and lower incidence of some chronic diseases, when compared to the animal protein consuming population.
A low-fat vegan diet
A study published in Diabetes Care, Volume 29, concluded that both a low-fat vegan diet and one based on the American Diabetes Association (ADA) guideline, improve glycaemic and lipid control in Type 2 diabetic patients, but these improvements were greater with a low-fat vegan diet. Of the 99 persons who participated in this study, 49 were randomly placed in the vegan group and 50 in the group which followed the ADA diet guidelines; they were followed up for 22 weeks and both groups met with a registered dietitian to formulate a diet plan for guidance on meals.
The vegan group followed a plan which consisted of 10 per cent fat, 15 per cent proteins and 75 per cent carbohydrate. Total calories and portion sizes were not restricted. The American Diabetes Association guideline encourages 15-20 per cent of your daily intake as proteins, 60-70 per cent as carbohydrate and the fat content should contain less than seven per cent of saturated fats. The overweight persons in the ADA group were advised to restrict calories by 500-1000 daily.
The results were as follows:
43 per cent of the vegan group and 26 per cent of the ADA group reduced their diabetes medication.
Weight loss was on average 6.5 kg (14 lb) in the vegan group compared to 3.1 kg (6.8 lb) in the ADA group.
A1C (a measure of blood glucose control), decreased almost one percentage point in the vegan group compared to half a percentage in the ADA group.
Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), often referred to as bad cholesterol because of its contribution to heart disease risk, was also lower in the vegan group compared to the ADA groups.
For persons with diabetes who wish to consider a vegan lifestyle, you will still need to be monitored by a health care team, which includes your registered dietitian/nutritionist. Finding the safest and healthiest way to control your diabetes is your choice, but remember, you need professional guidance. You can do it!
Rosalee M. Brown is a registered dietitian/nutritionist who operates Integrated Nutrition and Health Services; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.
