As the people in Hong Kong eat more red meat and fish, less vegetables, grains and fruits, the better their health becomes. Hong Kong achieved world's longest life expectancy in all three categories: both sexes, male and female (United Nations 2015), and world's highest IQ score (National IQs calculated and validated for 108 nations, Gerhard Meisenberg University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK. April 2010).
2015 UN Life Expectancy Data for Hong Kong:
Life Expectancy at birth (Both Sexes) 83.74 years, world 1st place!
Life Expectancy at birth (Male) 80.91 years, world 1st place!
Life Expectancy at birth (Female) 86.58 years, world 1st place!
World Average is 71.4 years.
Reference:
Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), released World Population Prospects, The 2015 Revision.
The 2015 UN Life Expectancy by Country List is available at this web link:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancy#List_by_the_United_Nations.2C_for_2010.E2.80.932015
Shown by health statistics from the Hong Kong government's department of health, the health in people of Hong Kong gets even better, not getting worst by eating more meat, fish and animal based foods.
(Public Health Information System (PHIS) of the Department of Health. Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government http://www.healthyhk.gov.hk/phisweb/en/healthy_facts/ )
Rates of most types of leading cancer death are lower from few decades ago when meat/fish consumption was less.
The age-standardized liver cancer death rate showed a decreasing trend since 1980.
http://www.healthyhk.gov.hk/phisweb/en/healthy_facts/disease_burden/major_causes_death/cancers/liver_cancer/
The age-standardized colorectal cancer death rate remains stable since 1980.
http://www.healthyhk.gov.hk/phisweb/en/healthy_facts/disease_burden/major_causes_death/cancers/colorectal_cancer/
The age-standardized death rate due to stomach cancer generally decreased between 1981 and 2014.
http://www.healthyhk.gov.hk/phisweb/en/healthy_facts/disease_burden/major_causes_death/cancers/stomach_cancer/
The age-standardized death rates due to oesophageal cancer for both sexes decreased between 1981 and 2014.
http://www.healthyhk.gov.hk/phisweb/en/healthy_facts/disease_burden/major_causes_death/cancers/oesophageal_cancer/
The age-standardized death rate due to breast cancer for both sexes remained stable between 1981 and 2014.
http://www.healthyhk.gov.hk/phisweb/en/healthy_facts/disease_burden/major_causes_death/cancers/breast_cancer/
In the years between 1979 and 2014, there was a general decreasing trend in age-standardized death rate due to cervical cancer.
http://www.healthyhk.gov.hk/phisweb/en/healthy_facts/disease_burden/major_causes_death/cancers/cervical_cancer/
The prostate cancer rate increases in Hong Kong men is due to now they have much longer life span, the prostate cancer rate remains low before they reached 70 years old.
http://www.healthyhk.gov.hk/phisweb/en/healthy_facts/disease_burden/major_causes_death/cancers/prostate_cancer/
The overall age-standardized nasopharyngeal cancer death rate decreased by 2/3 from 1980.
http://www.healthyhk.gov.hk/phisweb/en/healthy_facts/disease_burden/major_causes_death/cancers/nasopharyngeal_cancer/
The age standardized lung cancer death rate for both sexes continued to decrease since 1990.
http://www.healthyhk.gov.hk/phisweb/en/healthy_facts/disease_burden/major_causes_death/cancers/lung_cancer/
The age-standardized death rate in Hong Kong decreased from 6.0 per 1,000 standard population in 1981 to 3.1 per 1,000 standard population in 2014. The rates for male and female were also decreased during the period.
The infant mortality rate in Hong Kong dropped steadily from 10.1 registered infant deaths per 1,000 registered live births in 1983 to 1.7 registered infant deaths per 1,000 registered live births in 2014.
Cancer (Malignant neoplasms) death rate dropped from 2005:
Age-standardised death rate (per 100,000 standard population)
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
125.2 118.7 116.5 114.2 113.8 111.6 109.7 106.2 104.4 103.1
Diabetes mellitus death rate dropped from 2005:
Age-standardised death rate (per 100,000 standard population)
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
5.7 4.5 4.3 4.5 3.9 4.0 3.4 2.8 2.5 2.5
Septicaemia death rate dropped from 2005:
Age-standardised death rate (per 100,000 standard population)
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
6.6 6.0 6.4 6.4 6.0 6.4 5.5 5.8 5.7 5.4
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis death rate dropped from 2005:
Age-standardised death rate (per 100,000 standard population)
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
11.7 11.6 11.4 11.6 11.4 11.1 10.9 11.1 10.5 10.4
Cerebrovascular diseases death rate dropped from 2005:
Age-standardised death rate (per 100,000 standard population)
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
31.6 28.9 29.3 29.4 26.5 25.4 23.6 22.5 21.4 21.1
Heart Diseases death rate dropped from 2005:
Age-standardised death rate (per 100,000 standard population)
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
54.2 49.7 53.3 54.2 49.9 49.5 44.7 43.0 38.5 40.7
As people of Hong Kong ate more meat and fish,
their obesity rate decreased!
Body Mass Index (BMI) Distribution, Obese (BMI =or>25.0)
2004 (21.6%)
2014 (20.8%)
Without increase much in exercise!
Level of physical activity, Inactive
2004 (20.4%)
2014 (20.3%)
Level of physical activity, Minimally active
2004 (56.2%)
2014 (55.6%)
Level of physical activity, HEPA active*
2004 (22.8%)
2014 (23.1%)
*HEPA (health-enhancing physical activity) active is a more active category for those people who exceed the minimum public health physical activity recommendations, and are accumulating enough activity for a healthy lifestyle.
Hong Kong people's fruit consumption decreased from a decade ago.
Average number of fruits eaten per day, Less than 1
2004 (43.1%)
2014 (47.7%)
Average number of fruits eaten per day, 1 to 2
2004 (52.6%)
2014 (48.3%)
Average number of fruits eaten per day, More than 2
2004 (4.3%)
2014 (3.9%)
Average daily total meat products (livestock+seafood) consumption, percentage of total food intake by weight per person:
Hong Kong 32%
World 9%
Average daily total meat products (livestock+seafood) consumption, grams per person:
Hong Kong 695 (world highest)
World 173
Average daily seafood consumption, percentage of total food intake by weight per person:
Hong Kong 9%
World 3%
Average daily seafood consumption, grams per person per day:
Hong Kong 195
World 52
Average daily egg consumption, by weight in grams, per person:
Hong Kong 38
World 24
Pork Consumption, calories per person per day
Hong Kong 394
World 120
Meat Consumption, calories per person per day
Hong Kong 940
World 272
Seafood Consumption, calories per person per day
Hong Kong 104
World 34
Pork Consumption, calories per person per day
Hong Kong 394
World 120
Grain Consumption, calories per person per day
World 1296
Hong Kong 955
Produce Consumption, grams per person per day
World 749
Hong Kong 588
Vegetable Consumption, grams per person per day
World 372
Hong Kong 310
Vegetable Oil Consumption, calories per person per day
World 280
Hong Kong 250
Pulses Consumption, calories per person per day
World 64
Hong Kong 12
According to the US Department of Agriculture, Hong Kong’s per capita pork consumption is the highest in Asia.
The U.S. ranked 6th by volume and 3rd by value in pork supplies to Hong Kong. In the first three quarters of 2015, U.S. pork exports to Hong Kong reached 15,581 Metric Tons at a value of US$51 million.
The U.S. is the largest supplier of swine offals to Hong Kong by value.
http://gain.fas.usda.gov/Recent%20GAIN%20Publications/Livestock%20and%20Products%20Annual_Hong%20Kong_Hong%20Kong_11-10-2015.pdf
National Geographic says:
Hong Kong's meat consumption increased drastically than any other nation's in these 50 years. As it has since 1980, a spurring point for the economy, Hong Kong consumes more meat per person—both calorically and in weight—than any other nation. Hong Kong’s diet has changed drastically in the last 50 years, with the average person eating more grams of meat per day than any other food group. The average caloric consumption per person has also increased by 26%.
The following United Nations 2011 dietary data are available at National Geographic website, in a special feature article called What The World Eats: nationalgeographic.com/what-the-world-eats/
Sunday, June 5, 2016
As Hong Kong People Ate More Meat/Fish, Less Vegetables/Grains They Live Longer!
When Americans started to consume more vegetable oil instead of animal fat like butter and lard, and more carbohydrates and cut down red meat their health went bad. Even the 7th Day Adventist, the well known biggest vegetarian religion in the United States admits that their American members who eat the most fish have best health index among their members.
Americans per capita fish consumption hasn't increased much from past few decades, they need to start eating more fish and red meat, and less carbs and vegetable oil.
Despite air pollution is a serious problem in crowded Hong Kong, however, Hong Kong people enjoy the longest life expectancy and the highest national IQ estimate in the world. Their health index is one of the best in the world!
Hong Kong is the second-largest per capita consumer of seafood in Asia, and the seventh largest in the world.
In 2009, Each HK person ate 71.6kg per capita of seafood, the equivalent of about 250 mackerel. To put this in perspective, that is about 4.1 times higher than the global average (18.9 kg per capita; about 60 mackerel each per person).
This is not anything new, in the past decade Hong Kong people have been greatly increasing their consumption of seafood, red meat, poultry, dairy and eggs, all above world average but eat less in vegetables and grains, all below world average.
"Hong Kong health indices among world's best", reported by Government of the Hong Kong on 2003-01-28.
Compared to other countries, HK people eat the highest per capita amount of red meat and total meat (from all kinds of animal), their per capita consumption of produce, vegetable, fruit, grain, pulses and vegetable oil are lower than world average.
2015 UN Life Expectancy Data for Hong Kong:
Life Expectancy at birth (Both Sexes) 83.74 years, world 1st place!
Life Expectancy at birth (Male) 80.91 years, world 1st place!
Life Expectancy at birth (Female) 86.58 years, world 1st place!
World Average is 71.4 years.
Reference:
Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), released World Population Prospects, The 2015 Revision. The list is available at the web link below:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancy#List_by_the_United_Nations.2C_for_2010.E2.80.932015
National Geographic says:
Hong Kong's meat consumption increased drastically than any other nation's in these 50 years. As it has since 1980, a spurring point for the economy, Hong Kong consumes more meat per person—both calorically and in weight—than any other nation. Hong Kong’s diet has changed drastically in the last 50 years, with the average person eating more grams of meat per day than any other food group. The average caloric consumption per person has also increased by 26%.
The following United Nations dietary data are available at National Geographic website:
nationalgeographic.com/what-the-world-eats/
Average daily total meat products (livestock+seafood) consumption, percentage of total food intake by weight per person:
Hong Kong 32%
Japan 18%
World 9%
Average daily total meat products (livestock+seafood) consumption, grams per person:
Hong Kong 695 (world highest)
Japan 288
World 173
Average daily seafood consumption, percentage of total food intake by weight per person:
Hong Kong 9%
Japan 9%
World 3%
Average daily seafood consumption, grams per person per day:
Hong Kong 195
Japan 147
World 52
Average daily egg consumption, by weight in grams, per person:
Japan 52 (world highest)
Hong Kong 38
World 24
Pork Consumption, calories per person per day (2011):
Hong Kong 394
World 120
Total Meat Consumption (red meat, poultry, fish) calories per person per day (2011):
Hong Kong 940
World 272
Seafood Consumption, calories per person per day (2011):
Hong Kong 104
World 34
Pork Consumption, calories per person per day (2011):
Hong Kong 394
World 120
Grain Consumption, calories per person per day (2011):
World 1296
Hong Kong 955
Produce Consumption, grams per person per day (2011):
World 749
Hong Kong 588
Vegetable Consumption, grams per person per day (2011):
World 372
Hong Kong 310
Vegetable Oil Consumption, calories per person per day (2011):
World 280
Hong Kong 250
Pulses Consumption, calories per person per day (2011):
World 64
Hong Kong 12
Americans per capita fish consumption hasn't increased much from past few decades, they need to start eating more fish and red meat, and less carbs and vegetable oil.
Despite air pollution is a serious problem in crowded Hong Kong, however, Hong Kong people enjoy the longest life expectancy and the highest national IQ estimate in the world. Their health index is one of the best in the world!
Hong Kong is the second-largest per capita consumer of seafood in Asia, and the seventh largest in the world.
In 2009, Each HK person ate 71.6kg per capita of seafood, the equivalent of about 250 mackerel. To put this in perspective, that is about 4.1 times higher than the global average (18.9 kg per capita; about 60 mackerel each per person).
This is not anything new, in the past decade Hong Kong people have been greatly increasing their consumption of seafood, red meat, poultry, dairy and eggs, all above world average but eat less in vegetables and grains, all below world average.
"Hong Kong health indices among world's best", reported by Government of the Hong Kong on 2003-01-28.
Compared to other countries, HK people eat the highest per capita amount of red meat and total meat (from all kinds of animal), their per capita consumption of produce, vegetable, fruit, grain, pulses and vegetable oil are lower than world average.
2015 UN Life Expectancy Data for Hong Kong:
Life Expectancy at birth (Both Sexes) 83.74 years, world 1st place!
Life Expectancy at birth (Male) 80.91 years, world 1st place!
Life Expectancy at birth (Female) 86.58 years, world 1st place!
World Average is 71.4 years.
Reference:
Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), released World Population Prospects, The 2015 Revision. The list is available at the web link below:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancy#List_by_the_United_Nations.2C_for_2010.E2.80.932015
National Geographic says:
Hong Kong's meat consumption increased drastically than any other nation's in these 50 years. As it has since 1980, a spurring point for the economy, Hong Kong consumes more meat per person—both calorically and in weight—than any other nation. Hong Kong’s diet has changed drastically in the last 50 years, with the average person eating more grams of meat per day than any other food group. The average caloric consumption per person has also increased by 26%.
The following United Nations dietary data are available at National Geographic website:
nationalgeographic.com/what-the-world-eats/
Average daily total meat products (livestock+seafood) consumption, percentage of total food intake by weight per person:
Hong Kong 32%
Japan 18%
World 9%
Average daily total meat products (livestock+seafood) consumption, grams per person:
Hong Kong 695 (world highest)
Japan 288
World 173
Average daily seafood consumption, percentage of total food intake by weight per person:
Hong Kong 9%
Japan 9%
World 3%
Average daily seafood consumption, grams per person per day:
Hong Kong 195
Japan 147
World 52
Average daily egg consumption, by weight in grams, per person:
Japan 52 (world highest)
Hong Kong 38
World 24
Pork Consumption, calories per person per day (2011):
Hong Kong 394
World 120
Total Meat Consumption (red meat, poultry, fish) calories per person per day (2011):
Hong Kong 940
World 272
Seafood Consumption, calories per person per day (2011):
Hong Kong 104
World 34
Pork Consumption, calories per person per day (2011):
Hong Kong 394
World 120
Grain Consumption, calories per person per day (2011):
World 1296
Hong Kong 955
Produce Consumption, grams per person per day (2011):
World 749
Hong Kong 588
Vegetable Consumption, grams per person per day (2011):
World 372
Hong Kong 310
Vegetable Oil Consumption, calories per person per day (2011):
World 280
Hong Kong 250
Pulses Consumption, calories per person per day (2011):
World 64
Hong Kong 12
Saturday, June 4, 2016
Inuit Meat Diet is Healthy, Vegan Diet is NOT Healthy
It's a total myth that eating more produce such as vegetables, fruits, legumes and grains is optimal for health, and eating plenty of meat is bad for health and causes cancer, nothing further from the truth. I used to fall for those myths, after I did tons of researches and collected tons of official data, the conclusion is it's more important to eat more animal based foods than plant based foods.
Myth: meat causes cancer and heart disease.
Truth: Arctic Inuit's traditional diet is over 90% natural raw meat, their diet has highest percentage of meat and animal fat in the world. Inuit who eat such traditional diet have excellent health. Inuits ate mostly meats from both land and sea sources before White men introduced plant based foods to the Arctic. Inuit who ate traditional mostly meat diet had excellent health index, probably best in the world, they had extremely low rate of cancer, heart disease, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, even their life expectancy was among highest in the world if not for the hazardous environment they live in, their main cause of early deaths was injuries due to accidents and freezing cold weather most of the year.
I must point out that Inuit diet contains plenty of meats from seawater source, such as sea fish and sea mammals, their meats have good balance of various different fats which are excellent for health.
Myth: meat causes cancer and heart disease.
Truth: Arctic Inuit's traditional diet is over 90% natural raw meat, their diet has highest percentage of meat and animal fat in the world. Inuit who eat such traditional diet have excellent health. Inuits ate mostly meats from both land and sea sources before White men introduced plant based foods to the Arctic. Inuit who ate traditional mostly meat diet had excellent health index, probably best in the world, they had extremely low rate of cancer, heart disease, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, even their life expectancy was among highest in the world if not for the hazardous environment they live in, their main cause of early deaths was injuries due to accidents and freezing cold weather most of the year.
I must point out that Inuit diet contains plenty of meats from seawater source, such as sea fish and sea mammals, their meats have good balance of various different fats which are excellent for health.
Vegan Diet Lacks Important Nutrients
Dietary intake and nutritional status of young vegans and omnivores in Sweden.
Vegans had dietary intakes lower than the average requirements of riboflavin, vitamin B-12, vitamin D, calcium, and selenium.
Intakes of calcium and selenium remained low even with the inclusion of dietary supplements.
CONCLUSION:
The dietary habits of the vegans varied considerably and did not comply with the average requirements for some essential nutrients.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2002 Jul;76(1):100-6.
Vegans had dietary intakes lower than the average requirements of riboflavin, vitamin B-12, vitamin D, calcium, and selenium.
Intakes of calcium and selenium remained low even with the inclusion of dietary supplements.
CONCLUSION:
The dietary habits of the vegans varied considerably and did not comply with the average requirements for some essential nutrients.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2002 Jul;76(1):100-6.
Higher Bone Fracture Risk in Vegans
Comparative fracture risk in vegetarians and nonvegetarians in EPIC-Oxford.
CONCLUSIONS:
In this population, fracture risk was similar for meat eaters, fish eaters and vegetarians. The higher fracture risk in the vegans appeared to be a consequence of their considerably lower mean calcium intake. An adequate calcium intake is essential for bone health, irrespective of dietary preferences.
Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007 Dec;61(12):1400-6. Epub 2007 Feb 7.
CONCLUSIONS:
In this population, fracture risk was similar for meat eaters, fish eaters and vegetarians. The higher fracture risk in the vegans appeared to be a consequence of their considerably lower mean calcium intake. An adequate calcium intake is essential for bone health, irrespective of dietary preferences.
Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007 Dec;61(12):1400-6. Epub 2007 Feb 7.
Vitamin B-12 Benefits Cardiovascular Health
Nutrients. 2014 Aug; 6(8): 3259–32
Vegan Diet, Subnormal Vitamin B-12 Status and Cardiovascular Health
Metabolic vitamin B-12 deficiency is prevalent in vegetarians and, in particular, in vegans. Those subjects with normal or relatively high salt intake may be associated with unhealthy early vascular changes in function and structure, which have not been well documented in the past. In individuals with subnormal vitamin B-12 status, vitamin B-12 supplementation may significantly improve such vascular changes. Regular monitoring of vitamin B-12 profile may thus be beneficial for early detection and treatment of metabolic vitamin B-12 deficiency, and possibly prevention of atherosclerosis-related diseases.
Vegetarians, in particular vegans in India and China, have a high prevalence of metabolic vitamin B-12 deficiency.
Restriction or exclusion of all animal food, including dairy and egg products, in strict vegans may result in lower intake of vitamin B-12, and subsequently metabolic vitamin B-12 deficiency and adverse vascular surrogates (brachial FMD and carotid IMT).
Vegetarian diets are protective for cardiovascular risk and events. Vegan diets are more protective compared with lacto-ovo-vegetarian diets for body mass index, and prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hyperlipidemia. However, in cohorts with normal or relatively high salt intake and subnormal vitamin B12 status, such as in Chinese vegans, there is an adverse impact of vegan diets on atherosclerosis surrogates (arterial endothelial function and carotid intima-media thickness), which is potentially ameliorable by vitamin B-12 supplementation. Whether this benefit could be extended to other vegans with lower salt intake and better blood pressure profiles will remain to be confirmed.
Hence vegetarians in particular vegans need to be advised to carefully plan their diets, and to monitor their plasma vitamin B-12 on a more regular basis, to facilitate early detection of low vitamin B-12 status, and if necessary to take vitamin B-12 fortified food, B-12 supplementation, or milk products
there are few data concerning the possible cardiovascular effects of a vegan diet (with no meat, dairy or egg products). Vitamin B-12 deficiency is highly prevalent in vegetarians; this can be partially alleviated by taking dairy/egg products in lact-ovo-vegetarians. However, metabolic vitamin B-12 deficiency is highly prevalent in vegetarians in Australia, Germany, Italy and Austria, and in vegans (80%) in Hong Kong and India, where vegans rarely take vitamin B-12 fortified food or vitamin B-12
supplements. Similar deficiencies exist in northern Chinese rural communities consuming inadequate meat, egg or dairy products due to poverty or dietary habits. Vascular studies have demonstrated impaired arterial endothelial function and increased carotid intima-media thickness as atherosclerosis surrogates in such metabolic vitamin B-12 deficient populations, but not in lactovegetarians in China. Vitamin B-12 supplementation has a favourable impact on these vascular surrogates in Hong Kong vegans and in underprivileged communities in northern rural China. Regular monitoring of vitamin B-12 status is thus potentially beneficial for early detection and treatment of metabolic vitamin B-12 deficiency in vegans, and possibly for prevention of atherosclerosis-related diseases.
Toohey et al. reported that cardiovascular risk factors are more favourable in African-American vegans, compared with lacto-ovo-vegetarians, with significantly lower body mass index (24.7 ± 1.9 vs. 26.4 ± 0.45 kg/m2), lower total cholesterol (3.75 ± 0.12 vs. 4.51 ± 0.1 mmol/L), and lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels (2.06 ± 0.13 vs. 2.65 ± 0.09 mmol/L), p < 0.0
Vegan Diet, Subnormal Vitamin B-12 Status and Cardiovascular Health
Metabolic vitamin B-12 deficiency is prevalent in vegetarians and, in particular, in vegans. Those subjects with normal or relatively high salt intake may be associated with unhealthy early vascular changes in function and structure, which have not been well documented in the past. In individuals with subnormal vitamin B-12 status, vitamin B-12 supplementation may significantly improve such vascular changes. Regular monitoring of vitamin B-12 profile may thus be beneficial for early detection and treatment of metabolic vitamin B-12 deficiency, and possibly prevention of atherosclerosis-related diseases.
Vegetarians, in particular vegans in India and China, have a high prevalence of metabolic vitamin B-12 deficiency.
Restriction or exclusion of all animal food, including dairy and egg products, in strict vegans may result in lower intake of vitamin B-12, and subsequently metabolic vitamin B-12 deficiency and adverse vascular surrogates (brachial FMD and carotid IMT).
Vegetarian diets are protective for cardiovascular risk and events. Vegan diets are more protective compared with lacto-ovo-vegetarian diets for body mass index, and prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hyperlipidemia. However, in cohorts with normal or relatively high salt intake and subnormal vitamin B12 status, such as in Chinese vegans, there is an adverse impact of vegan diets on atherosclerosis surrogates (arterial endothelial function and carotid intima-media thickness), which is potentially ameliorable by vitamin B-12 supplementation. Whether this benefit could be extended to other vegans with lower salt intake and better blood pressure profiles will remain to be confirmed.
Hence vegetarians in particular vegans need to be advised to carefully plan their diets, and to monitor their plasma vitamin B-12 on a more regular basis, to facilitate early detection of low vitamin B-12 status, and if necessary to take vitamin B-12 fortified food, B-12 supplementation, or milk products
there are few data concerning the possible cardiovascular effects of a vegan diet (with no meat, dairy or egg products). Vitamin B-12 deficiency is highly prevalent in vegetarians; this can be partially alleviated by taking dairy/egg products in lact-ovo-vegetarians. However, metabolic vitamin B-12 deficiency is highly prevalent in vegetarians in Australia, Germany, Italy and Austria, and in vegans (80%) in Hong Kong and India, where vegans rarely take vitamin B-12 fortified food or vitamin B-12
supplements. Similar deficiencies exist in northern Chinese rural communities consuming inadequate meat, egg or dairy products due to poverty or dietary habits. Vascular studies have demonstrated impaired arterial endothelial function and increased carotid intima-media thickness as atherosclerosis surrogates in such metabolic vitamin B-12 deficient populations, but not in lactovegetarians in China. Vitamin B-12 supplementation has a favourable impact on these vascular surrogates in Hong Kong vegans and in underprivileged communities in northern rural China. Regular monitoring of vitamin B-12 status is thus potentially beneficial for early detection and treatment of metabolic vitamin B-12 deficiency in vegans, and possibly for prevention of atherosclerosis-related diseases.
Toohey et al. reported that cardiovascular risk factors are more favourable in African-American vegans, compared with lacto-ovo-vegetarians, with significantly lower body mass index (24.7 ± 1.9 vs. 26.4 ± 0.45 kg/m2), lower total cholesterol (3.75 ± 0.12 vs. 4.51 ± 0.1 mmol/L), and lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels (2.06 ± 0.13 vs. 2.65 ± 0.09 mmol/L), p < 0.0
Probiotic-containing yoghurt improves mood and cognition
Impact of consuming a milk drink containing a probiotic on mood and cognition.
CONCLUSIONS:
The consumption of a probiotic-containing yoghurt improved the mood of those whose mood was initially poor. This improvement in mood was not, however, associated with an increased frequency of defaecation.
Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007 Mar;61(3):355-61. Epub 2006 Dec 6.
CONCLUSIONS:
The consumption of a probiotic-containing yoghurt improved the mood of those whose mood was initially poor. This improvement in mood was not, however, associated with an increased frequency of defaecation.
Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007 Mar;61(3):355-61. Epub 2006 Dec 6.
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