Are Vegetarians Really The Unhealthiest People?

Vegetarians often insist that their diet is the healthiest diet available. But research at the Medical University of Graz in Austria shows that vegetarians may be the least healthy folks of all.

And how was the health of vegetarians determined? By asking vegetarians themselves. The scientists found that when they interviewed more than 1,300 people, they found that the vegetarians were more likely to feel unhealthy and think that their physical health and personal relationships are subpar.

“The vegetarians have indicated that they have a worse subjective health condition, more health restrictions and increased allergies, and incidences of cancer and mental illness,” epidemiologist and lead researcher Nathalie Burkert told The Guardian.

The study also shows that vegetarians have a lower body mass index and claim to drink fewer alcoholic beverages.

The Graz researchers believe that the Mediterranean diet, which contains fruits and vegetables as well as a bit of meat, is healthier than a strict vegetarian regimen. People in the study who ate a Mediterranean diet said they felt healthier and had fewer chronic diseases than vegetarians.

“They had better health, and a better quality of life and fewer visits to the doctors,” says Burkert.

Carl Lowe

By Carl Lowe

has written about health, fitness and nutrition for a wide range of publications including Prevention Magazine, Self Magazine and Time-Life Books. The author of more than a dozen books, he has been gluten-free since 2007.

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