Heart Disease and Vegetarianism
The last few decades have shown a rapidly increasing trend in heart disease cases. Currently, 34.3% of all deaths in the United States are directly attributed to heart disease, making it the number 1 killer across the land. Avoiding heart disease, as a result, will greatly decrease your risk of early mortality. The vegetarian diet can be an easy and simple way to clean up your diet, and decrease your overall risk of disease.
Heart Disease and Lifestyle
Surely, the vegetarian diet increase your health, but let's first take a look at the some of the reasons behind heart disease.
• Smoking: this accounts for 40% of all heart disease related deaths.
• Trans fats, hydrogenated oils, and saturated fats: Trans fats and hydrogenated oils are artificially produced fats that are converted into saturated fats in the body. Saturated fats in high concentrations lead to clogged arteries, which leads to stress, and, ultimately, problems with the heart.
• Exercise: Studies show that even a brisk, daily walk can significantly lower your risk of heart disease, some showing by 50%. More vigorous exercise - like running - can have even greater benefits on the heart.
• Genetics: Some people inherent greater risk from their family genetics.
How Meat Affects The Heart
The beauty of adopting the vegetarian diet lies in its simplicity. You'll eliminate the endless debate in your head of whether to indulge in a steak or burger - the answer simply becomes "no." Meats are high in a number of nutrients that negatively impact the body, including LDL cholesterol and saturated fats. Saturated fats have an awkward molecular shape, which causes them to build up in the arteries around the heart. They also promote LDL cholesterol production in the liver, not to mention the cholesterol already present in the meat itself. By cutting out meats from the diet, you will be increasing a heart-healthy lifestyle.
The Affects of Fruits and Vegetables
Not only will you be eliminating bad nutrients from your diet, but you will be replacing them with actively good ones. Fruits and vegetables are notorious for having high concentrations of antioxidants, which are proven to help fight heart disease, not to mention cancer. Antioxidants seek out free radicals in the body and neutralize them. Left unchecked, free radicals can cause serious damage to cell structure over time, so refilling the body of antioxidants can go a long way in fighting them off. Antioxidants are found in the form of beta-carotene (vitamin A) and vitamin C, among others.
Dietary fiber intake is typically increased once the switch to a vegetarian diet is made. This has been proven to reduce overall cholesterol in the body, especially LDL cholesterol. Dietary fiber does this by neutralizing bile acids in the stomach, which are not only used for digestion, but by the liver to help detoxify the body. When there are not enough bile acids present to perform this function, it leaches cholesterol from the heart in its stead, reducing overall levels in the body.
The vegetarian diet is a simple way to combat and prevent heart disease. If you already suffer from heart disease, make sure to consult your doctor or nutritionist before making the leap to the vegetarian diet. They will ensure that your new found interest in vegetarianism is worked into your life in the healthiest way possible.
Heart Disease and Lifestyle
Surely, the vegetarian diet increase your health, but let's first take a look at the some of the reasons behind heart disease.
• Smoking: this accounts for 40% of all heart disease related deaths.
• Trans fats, hydrogenated oils, and saturated fats: Trans fats and hydrogenated oils are artificially produced fats that are converted into saturated fats in the body. Saturated fats in high concentrations lead to clogged arteries, which leads to stress, and, ultimately, problems with the heart.
• Exercise: Studies show that even a brisk, daily walk can significantly lower your risk of heart disease, some showing by 50%. More vigorous exercise - like running - can have even greater benefits on the heart.
• Genetics: Some people inherent greater risk from their family genetics.
How Meat Affects The Heart
The beauty of adopting the vegetarian diet lies in its simplicity. You'll eliminate the endless debate in your head of whether to indulge in a steak or burger - the answer simply becomes "no." Meats are high in a number of nutrients that negatively impact the body, including LDL cholesterol and saturated fats. Saturated fats have an awkward molecular shape, which causes them to build up in the arteries around the heart. They also promote LDL cholesterol production in the liver, not to mention the cholesterol already present in the meat itself. By cutting out meats from the diet, you will be increasing a heart-healthy lifestyle.
The Affects of Fruits and Vegetables
Not only will you be eliminating bad nutrients from your diet, but you will be replacing them with actively good ones. Fruits and vegetables are notorious for having high concentrations of antioxidants, which are proven to help fight heart disease, not to mention cancer. Antioxidants seek out free radicals in the body and neutralize them. Left unchecked, free radicals can cause serious damage to cell structure over time, so refilling the body of antioxidants can go a long way in fighting them off. Antioxidants are found in the form of beta-carotene (vitamin A) and vitamin C, among others.
Dietary fiber intake is typically increased once the switch to a vegetarian diet is made. This has been proven to reduce overall cholesterol in the body, especially LDL cholesterol. Dietary fiber does this by neutralizing bile acids in the stomach, which are not only used for digestion, but by the liver to help detoxify the body. When there are not enough bile acids present to perform this function, it leaches cholesterol from the heart in its stead, reducing overall levels in the body.
The vegetarian diet is a simple way to combat and prevent heart disease. If you already suffer from heart disease, make sure to consult your doctor or nutritionist before making the leap to the vegetarian diet. They will ensure that your new found interest in vegetarianism is worked into your life in the healthiest way possible.
