Omnivore vs. Vegan: Which Diet is Better? (2024)

FAQs

Omnivore vs. Vegan: Which Diet is Better? ›

The Twin Study: An Honest Review

Vegetarians and vegans typically have lower body mass index, serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and blood pressure than comparable regular meat-eaters, as well as lower bone mineral density.

No statistically significant differences have been shown for total cardiovascular disease between vegans and meat eaters, but the data so far suggest there may be a lower risk of ischaemic heart disease and perhaps a higher risk of stroke in vegans. There is no evidence of a difference in life expectancy.

One of the key advantages of an omnivorous diet is that it is naturally balanced in macronutrients. This means that individuals who follow this type of diet are more likely to get enough protein, carbohydrates, and fats, which are all essential for maintaining a healthy body.

Plant-based diets can lower all-cause mortality and lower the risk of ischemic heart disease with reduced IHD-related mortality [3,4].

A new report found that those who ate a healthy vegan diet had better health markers compared to those who ate an omnivorous diet. The researchers recruited 22 pair of twins, who were randomly assigned to eat either an omnivorous or vegan diet for eight weeks.

Vegan diets have also been shown to help in the treatment of type 2 diabetes by lowering total and LDL cholesterol and by controlling lipid levels, for example by reducing triglycerides, a type of fat that is also associated with a greater risk of heart disease (Jenkins et al.

One study from JAMA Internal Medicine Journal found that vegans have a 9% lower risk of death from all causes compared with omnivores, and another study from that same source suggests as high as 12%.

A team of researchers at Loma Linda University in the United States has shown vegetarian men live for an average of 10 years longer than non-vegetarian men — 83 years compared to 73 years. For women, being vegetarian added an extra 6 years to their lives, helping them reach 85 years on average.

Mediterranean Diet, DASH Diet, and MIND Diets Are the Best Diets of 2024. All three diets are highly recommended by doctors because of their known health benefits. “The Mediterranean eating plan doesn't have a set calorie range or portion guidelines, which is why it can fit almost anyone's needs.

Are vegans happier than omnivores? ›

Respondents were asked: “If you look back at the last year of your life, how would you rate your happiness on a scale from 1 to 10?” The average happiness rating was 6.9, with meat-eaters scoring the lowest happiness rating of 6.8 on a scale of 1 to 10 and vegans scoring 7 percent higher.

While a well-balanced plant-based diet can provide a wide range of nutrients, certain essential nutrients are more abundant in animal-derived foods. Plant-based diets can sometimes lead to nutritional deficiencies such as vitamin B12, iron, zinc, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids.

The study concluded that both dietary approaches were effective in helping participants lose weight. However, the vegan diet seemed to have a more favorable outcome on heart health and aging. The vegan diet seemed particularly effective in lowering LDL cholesterol compared to the omnivore diet.

Having an unspecialized digestive system that has to handle both plant and animal materials can be a disadvantage for omnivores because it limits the types of plants that can be successfully consumed and digested.

Typical omnivore diets rich in meat and especially processed meat products have been shown to be associated with a higher prevalence of CVD risk factors such as obesity [12, 13], hypertension [14, 15], insulin resistance [7, 11], unfavourable blood lipid levels [10, 12] and adverse vascular changes [5, 7].

Groundbreaking research shows that a plant-based diet doesn't just prevent heart disease but that it can manage and sometimes even reverse it.

Plant-based diets can play a significant role in reducing blocked arteries, study says. Vegetarian and vegan diets are linked to lower levels of cholesterol and fats in your blood, according to an analysis of all the evidence from randomized trials published since 1982.

In a landmark study, he put a group of patients on a low-fat vegetarian diet and prescribed moderate exercise. Within a year, the plaques that had been growing in their hearts for decades actually started to dissolve. Patients' chest pains disappeared, and their cholesterol levels dropped.

And people who don't eat meat, called vegetarians, generally eat fewer calories and less fat. They also tend to weigh less. And they have a lower risk of heart disease than nonvegetarians do. Research shows that people who eat red meat are at a higher risk of death from heart disease, stroke or diabetes.

While meat can be a part of a healthy diet, not all sources are created equal. The leanest and healthiest meats to eat include poultry, pork, fish, and seafood. Eating a balanced diet is one of the keys to a healthy lifestyle, which means choosing various foods from different food groups, like proteins.

Is being vegan actually healthier? ›

While studies have shown that a vegan diet (VD) may be associated with improved health outcomes [6,7], the negative health repercussions of these food preferences, on the other hand, are rarely highlighted, and veganism may be associated with negative health effects due to nutritional deficiencies.

Tom Brady follows a “commonsensical” diet, primarily plant-based but not strictly vegan or vegetarian. He emphasizes that he's not a vegan or vegetarian by definition. Tom's meals comprise approximately 80 percent plant- and 20 percent animal-based foods.

Vegetarians appear to have lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure and lower rates of hypertension and type 2 diabetes than meat eaters. Vegetarians also tend to have a lower body mass index, lower overall cancer rates and lower risk of chronic disease.

Many doctors, dieticians, and other health professionals advocate for a plant-based diet. In part, this is because of the health risks associated with animal products. There is an increasing body of evidence that links meat consumption—particularly that of red and processed meats—with chronic illness.

“While we found plant-based meat products were generally healthier than their processed meat equivalents, healthier alternatives would still be lean unprocessed meats and legumes, beans and falafel.” Plant-based meats, or meat analogues, are designed to mimic meat products and act as a substitute for meat protein.

Both diets share many of the same benefits, though vegan diets might be a little healthier. Also, you may miss out on some nutrients, like vitamin B12, when eating plant-based diets. Talk to a registered dietitian about trying these diets and to ensure you are eating a well-rounded, balanced diet.

Meat-eaters suffer less anxiety and depression than vegans and vegetarians. A meta-analysis examined the effects of meat consumption on mental health, revealing significant differences between those mental health and those who don't.