Adventist Christian Study Unveiling Health Benefits of the Vegan Diet

A 2013 research article published in JAMA Internal Medicine looked at the association between different vegetarian diets, including vegan diets, and risk of death from all causes as well as specific diseases. The researchers analyzed data from over 73,000 Seventh-day Adventists in the U.S. and Canada who were followed for an average of almost 6 years.

The study found that overall, vegetarians had a 12% lower risk of dying during the study period compared to non-vegetarians. The research also showed some specific benefits of a vegan diet:

- Vegans had a 15% lower risk of dying from any cause compared to meat-eaters. For men following a vegan diet, the risk was even lower at 28% reduction.

- Vegan men specifically had a 55% lower risk of dying from heart disease and a 42% lower risk of dying from renal failure compared to men who ate meat.

- Both vegan men and women combined had a 39% decreased risk of dying from endocrine diseases like diabetes.

Additional Positives of a Vegan Diet

The major positives of following a well-planned vegan diet found in this and other research include:

Lower Risk of Chronic Diseases

Vegan diets are linked to decreased risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and certain types of cancer. The fiber, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals in plants are extremely beneficial. At the same time, eliminating meat cuts out saturated fats, hormones and other unhealthy compounds.

Weight Loss and Maintenance

On average, vegans have lower BMI and body weight compared to non-vegetarians. Filling up on fiber-rich whole plant foods instead of calorie-dense animal products can promote weight loss and maintenance.

Increased Nutrient Intake

Well-balanced vegan diets are high in beneficial nutrients like folate, potassium, magnesium and vitamins A, C and E. Care should be taken to ensure adequate iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin B12 and protein intake.

Ethical Reasons

For many, ethics are paramount. A vegan lifestyle means animals are not used for food production or other purposes like clothing manufacturing. There are also reduced environmental impacts.

In summary, research shows vegan diets are associated with a number of health positives like decreased risk of chronic diseases, weight management benefits and important nutrients from plant foods. Following a well-planned vegan diet can be healthful at all stages of life. Of course, other lifestyle habits still impact health for vegans, but diet appears to play an important role based on studies like the 2013 article.

Orlich MJ, Singh PN, Sabaté J, Jaceldo-Siegl K, Fan J, Knutsen S, Beeson WL, Fraser GE. Vegetarian dietary patterns and mortality in Adventist Health Study 2. JAMA Intern Med. 2013 Jul 8;173(13):1230-8. PMID: 23836264 PMCID: PMC4191896 DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.6473