Vegetable Diet Not Just Good For Weight Loss

Scientists looking at vegetables and their properties have concluded that they can actually prevent the hardening of arteries known as Atherosclerosis. The research conducted out at Wake Forest University was done using mice and it was noted that the mice that were given a diet that contained a third of vegaetables such as broccoli, peas and corn were predisposed to suffering from the atherosclerosis problem that causes blood vessels to harden and reduce blood flow.

All the mice in the clinical test had high levels of bad cholesterol that is known to be a danger factor for atherosclerosis in people but when the mice were fed a consistant diet containing vegetables the development of the hardening of the arteries was arrested and their health improved. The researchers are not entirely clear as to why exactly the vegetable diet reduces the formation of the plaque on the artery wall but it is probable that it has something to do with the fact that vegetable diets reduce the inflammatory activity and other research has shown that atherosclerosis progression is connected to arterial inflammation.

The Journal of Nutrition a respected publication in the medical world published the findings in its June Issue and noted that while there had been other research into vegetable diets and how they can lower blood pressure and boost good cholesterol levels this was the first study to really look into the effect of a veg diet on the developing or progression of atherosclerosis in humans.

Doctors and health professional have always encouraged people to eat fruit and veg but it was not until the 70’s that resarchers actually came up with proper proof that they really could lower blood pressure and bad cholesterol levels. The research into fruit and veg led to many new diets to lower blood pressure and improve health generally. The most famous one is called the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) and has been credited with increasing the health of millions of people since its inception as it has also been noted to prevent diabetes, heart disease and even osteoporosis.

Ukmedix is a strong believer in a simple approach to dieting and fruit and vegetables must play an important role in any diet plan.