Globe Health Tours News

Mar 18: A new study conducted by Arthritis Research and Therapy has revealed that the patients suffering from Rheumatoid arthritis could minimise the risk of heart attack and stroke by opting for vegetarian diet. Heart attack and strokes are considered as the major cause of death among arthritis patients as the inflammation created by the disease will affect the arteries. It is estimated that around 350,000 people are affected by Rheumatoid Arthritis in the UK.

The experts at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm said that by excluding meat products and gluten from the diet the risk of heart attack will reduce a great deal. The speciality of vegetarian diet is that it has less cholesterol level.

The research included 38 volunteers for the study and they were tested after given vegetarian diet over a period of time. When they were tested after that and it was found that their cholesterol level has decreased, mainly the low-density lipoprotein, which is considered as bad cholesterol. While in those people who took non-vegetarian diet the level of cholesterol has not undergone any significant change.

The decline in cholesterol level among those who took vegetarian diet will help them to prevent arteries blockage and other cardiovascular disease. Their Body Mass Index (BMI) was also reduced after consuming vegetarian diet for the period of 12 months.

While commenting on this a spokeswoman of the Arthritis Research Campaign said: “The study result is interesting as we too know that eating oily fish will help to reduce inflammation and the consumption of high quantity of meat and low quantity of vegetables and fruits will also increase the problem of Rheumatoid arthritis.”

She also pointed out that vegetarian diet will help in reducing cholesterol but it will fail to fulfil all our nutrition needs.

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