Postmenopausal women are able to lose weight and improve insulin sensitivity more effectively when following a low-fat, vegan diet that excludes meat and dairy products, according to a study published in the American Journal of Medicine.
Half of the 59 participants — all of whom were overweight, postmenopausal women — followed a vegan diet. The other half followed a control diet based on National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines.
“The study participants following the vegan diet enjoyed unlimited servings of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other healthful foods that enabled them to lose weight without feeling hungry,” noted Dr. Barnard.
“As they began to experience the positive effects — weight loss and improved insulin sensitivity — the women in the intervention group became even more motivated to follow the plant-based eating plan,” Dr. Barnard observed.
Lower rates of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and other life-threatening diseases occur among vegetarian populations worldwide.