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Every year, approximately 523 million people get affected by heart disease, the leading cause of mortality globally. The battle against heart disease and stroke could be won or lost at the grocery store.
Surprised? Let us explain!
According to the researchers, poor eating habits speak out as a major factor that increases the risk of death associated with chronic diseases. Numerous studies show a direct link between what you eat and your life expectancy. Although you may be aware that certain superfoods can reduce the risk of heart disease, changing your eating patterns can be difficult. Read on to know how switching to a vegan diet can help you maintain a healthy heart.
And believe us, it's super easy to follow. Here you go!
A Close Look at The Vegan Diet
Veganism has grown in popularity in recent years all over the world. Many organizations have emphasized the ethical benefits of following a vegan diet, which is a major factor for many people who follow a vegan diet. Veganism entails eliminating all animal and animal-based foods from your diet, which is beneficial to animal welfare. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts are vegan diet staples. These foods are high in fiber, antioxidants, and compounds that aid disease prevention.
Why Vegan Diet?
Adopting a vegan diet also has numerous health benefits, as evidenced by multiple studies and books published in the last decade. A vegan diet does not include animal products like meat, dairy, or eggs. When done correctly, it can be healthy and nutritious, reduce the risk of heart diseases, and aid in weight loss. According to research, a balanced diet can also improve your heart health, protect against cancer, and reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes.
A vegan diet can also help to reduce the risk of:
- High Blood Pressure: A potassium-rich vegan diet lowers blood pressure.
- High Cholesterol: Choose high-fiber foods to help lower cholesterol.
- Atherosclerosis: Vegan food does not have saturated fat and cholesterol that can cause plaque buildup in the arteries, restricting blood flow.
- Inflammation: Vegan diets reduce inflammation, which can cause heart disease and other ailments.
Can Eating a Vegan Diet Lower The Risk of Heart Ailment?
Vegan diets generally have been known for lowering the risk of heart disease. Compared to omnivores, observational studies review suggests that vegan eaters may have an 8–32 percent lower risk of developing heart disease. Below suggested are some of the well-known benefits of following a vegan diet:
- A diet high in unsaturated fats help reduce inflammation, lower LDL (bad cholesterol), and increase HDL (good cholesterol), thus, lowering the risk factors for heart disease.
- Replace saturated fat with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats to improve insulin sensitivity and lower your risk of having type 2 diabetes, both of which are risk factors for heart disease. That switch also tends to help your body keep healthy arteries and veins and allows it to repair them more effectively when necessary.
- A vegan diet is high in soluble fiber, which may help lower cholesterol and improve overall blood sugar control.
- Vegan foods are typically high in antioxidants and a few other phytonutrients that aid in reducing inflammation and protecting the heart and body. These compounds may also help lower blood pressure and the likelihood of blood clot formation, lowering your overarching risk of stroke.
- Vegan diets contain almost no heme iron. High heme iron consumption has been identified as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Heme iron is commonly found in animal foods such as red meat, fish, poultry, and seafood, whereas non-heme iron is commonly found in vegan foods.
- Vegan foods are naturally rich in many vitamins and non-heme iron. This combination appears to be especially beneficial in lowering the risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
- Other factors to consider are the sodium, nitrates, and nitrites commonly used to preserve processed meats. Frequent consumption of these additives has been associated with higher blood pressure and shrinking, hardening, or expansion of blood vessels, all of which lead to a heart attack.
- Sodium, nitrates, and nitrites appear to reduce the body's ability to respond to insulin, the hormone that helps manage blood sugar levels by transporting sugar from the blood into the blood cells.
- Vegan diets may lower your risk of heart disease due to their impact on your gut bacteria.
Takeaway
The aforementioned benefits have proven the importance of a vegan diet and how it helps in reducing the risk of major lifestyle diseases. The ratio of people getting infected by heart-related diseases is quite alarming. Research says the number of annual deaths due to heart ailments is supposed to rise from 2.26 million in 1990 to 4.77 million in 2022. Thus, it is high time we should keep a close eye on our daily food intake. And above all, we should consider buying health insurance that offers comprehensive coverage for such ailments.
Having said that, if you are looking for a policy that can aid you with multiple benefits during a health emergency, you can consider buying Care Heart, comprehensive health insurance offered by Care Health Insurance. This uniquely designed policy covers the hospitalization expenses owing to heart disease and keeps you refrain from breaking the bank.
Disclaimer: The above information is for reference purposes only: Policy Assurance and Claims at the underwriter's discretion.
