VEGETARIANISM..... HEALTHIER WAY OF LIFE... OR NOT???

VEGETARIANS... kind of cool... they have lower BMIs.. are more active,... they tend to drink less alcohol...and are usually from a higher socio-economic background.  That all sounds great.. BUT.. a new study came out that says that vegetarians tend to lead a poorer quality of life than their meat eating coutnerparts.!!

The vegetarian diet, which includes nuts, fruits, LOTS of veggies, meat alternatives including soy and whole grain prodeucts, is now being associated with elevated risks of cancer, allergies and mental health disorders!!!!!  How can this be? Read this article that was from CBSlocal in Atlanta, GA: 

ATLANTA (CBS ATLANTA) – Vegetarians may have a lower BMI and drink alcohol sparingly, but vegetarian diets are tied to generally poorer health, poorer quality of life and a higher need for health care than their meat-eating counterparts.

A new study from the Medical University of Graz in Austria finds that vegetarians are more physically active, drink less alcohol and smoke less tobacco than those who consume meat in their diets. Vegetarians also have a higher socioeconomic status and a lower body mass index. But the vegetarian diet — characterized by a low consumption of saturated fats and cholesterol that includes increased intake of fruits, vegetables and whole-grain products — carries elevated risks of cancer, allergies and mental health disorders.

Vegetarians were twice as likely to have allergies, a 50 percent increase in heart attacks and a 50 percent increase in incidences of cancer.

The cross-sectional study from Austrian Health Interview Survey data and published in PLos One examined participants dietary habits, demographic characteristics and general lifestyle differences.

The most significant dietary habit difference between meat-eaters and vegetarians concerned their BMI and alcohol consumption – with both being higher for those who consume meat.

Many past studies have instead put an emphasis on the health risks associated with red meat and carnivorous diets, but this study points the other dietary direction. However, the researchers do caution that continuing studies will be needed to substantiate some of the rather broad dietary distinctions, associations presented in this current research.

Overall, vegetarians were found to be in a poorer state of health compared to other dietary groups. Vegetarians reported higher levels of impairment from disorders, chronic diseases, and “suffer significantly more often from anxiety/depression.”

Subjects who consumed lower amounts of animal fat were also linked to poor health care practices, such as avoidance of vaccinations and a lack of preventive care.

Chronic problems associated with vegetarians and people eating carnivorous diets rich in fruits and vegetables were linked to more frequent visits to doctors, which the study authors suggest requires public health programs to reduce the health risk due to their nutritional factors.

The researchers conclude: “Our study has shown that Austrian adults who consume a vegetarian diet are less healthy (in terms of cancer, allergies, and mental health disorders), have a lower quality of life, and also require more medical treatment.”

“Therefore, a continued strong public health program for Austria is required in order to reduce the health risk due to nutritional factors.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that healthy diets rich in fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases for all dietary groups. A 2009 study from the CDC found that about 1 in 200 young Americans, or 367,000 US children, are vegetarians.

– Benjamin Fearnow

BUT... in all fair practices, here is the rebuttal to that article from Woman's Health magazine:
Vegetarian eating has an all-star health rep—but according to a new study published in the journal PLOS ONE, vegetarians may actually be less healthy than meat eaters, on average.
Austrian researchers examined the eating habits and health of 1,320 people, ranging from vegetarians to straight-up meat eaters. They found that vegetarians had higher incidences of cancer, allergies, and mental health disorders than their carnivorous counterparts.
The findings fly in the face of just about every other study ever conducted on vegetarian eating. "Many other strong studies show vegetarianism may support a healthy weight, decrease cardiovascular risk factors, and lower rates of hypertension and type 2 diabetes," says nutritionist Jaime Mass, M.S., R.D., founder of Jaime Mass Nutritionals. 

So before you ditch your veggie burger for the real deal, remember that just because the vegetarians in this study were less healthy than those who ate meat, that doesn't mean a vegetarian diet is the reason why. Many of the people in the study may have pursued vegetarian eating after experiencing health issues, and the study didn't correct for this type of patient history, says Mass. 

Also, since the study didn't delve into exactly what the vegetarians were eating, the results may be more about how the people in the study ate vegetarian than the pure fact that they cut out meat from their diets.

"Being vegetarian does not guarantee health," says Mass. "It's how you approach a vegetarian lifestyle that matters. A vegetarian who consumes legumes, fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts will have a different health profile than a vegetarian who consumes a diet high in refined carbohydrates like muffins, pasta, cookies, and cakes."

What's more, a vegetarian diet can be lacking in certain key nutrients, if not well planned. 

"Any time you cut out a food group, there is a risk you could be missing out on certain nutrients," says Mass. She reviews her vegetarian clients' nutrient intake—including their health history and food-medication interactions—to understand if any nutrients could be lacking in their diet.  

After all, healthy vegetarian eating is about more than getting enough protein. Vegetarians and vegans also need to prioritize their intake of iron, calcium, vitamin B12, and zinc. Vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation may also be necessary. "These may be suboptimal in all individuals, but consumption may be even lower in vegetarians," says Mass.

And whether or not you cut out meat, you could probably stand to eat more produce. According to a recent study published in the British Medical Journal, people who consume at least seven servings of fruits and vegetables every day slash their death risk from any cause—at any point in life—by 42 percent.