Plant-based eating has been put on a pedestal for years with claims that it is more nutritious and wards off disease better than eating meat.
However, researchers at Tufts University found that consuming small amounts of meat or dairy could promote healthy aging in women.
A study of more than 48,000 women collected over three decades found that women who ate mostly plant-based protein sources like vegetables and beans yet consumed a small amount of animal protein were 46 percent more likely to become healthier as they got older. became.
The team found reduced reports of heart disease, cancer, diabetes and cognitive decline.
The study is one of several in recent years that have suggested that animal protein, even in a primarily plant-based diet, is crucial for warding off chronic disease.
Researchers found that eating small amounts of animal protein in a primarily plant-based diet can ward off diseases such as cancer and heart disease
Many people are sold on veganism for its benefits that it can help with weight loss and even reduce the risk of some types of cancer. But dieting also comes with a number of health risks, as it can cause a person to become deficient in nutrients normally obtained from vitamins and animal products.
Dr. Andres Ardisson Korat, lead author of the study and a nutrition scientist at Tufts University, said: ‘Consuming protein in middle age was linked to promoting nutritional health in old age.’
‘We also discovered that the protein source matters. Getting most of your protein from plant sources in middle age, plus a small amount of animal protein, appears to be beneficial for good health and survival in old age.”
The data was collected from Harvard University’s Nurse’s Health Study, which followed female healthcare workers from 1984 to 2016.
At the start of the study, the women were between 38 and 59 years old and had no pre-existing physical or mental health problems.
Every four years, the team collected self-reported surveys from participants about what protein sources they ate.
They then compared the diets of women who did not develop chronic diseases or have poorer physical or mental health with the diets of those who did.
The women who got most of their protein from plant sources — including vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans and pasta — were 46 percent more likely to become healthy as they got older.
This included a greater chance of being free of eleven chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, cancer and Parkinson’s disease.
However, those who consumed mainly animal proteins (beef, chicken, milk, fish and cheese) were six percent less likely to stay healthy as they got older.
‘Those who consumed higher amounts of animal protein were more likely to have chronic diseases and fail to achieve the improved physical function we normally associate with eating protein,’ said Dr Ardisson Korat.
However, even on a plant-based diet, the healthier group also consumed some animal protein sources, including lean sources such as chicken and fish.
The researchers said these foods should also be eaten for their iron and vitamin B12 content, which support immune health, energy levels and brain function.
The study is consistent with other recent research that has warned against completely vegan diets.
For example, a major review of 500 studies by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) found that animal proteins provide “critical sources of much-needed nutrients,” including protein, fats and carbohydrates, iron, calcium and zinc. .
Moreover, a 2020 study warned that vegans are more than twice as likely to suffer a broken bone, ankle injury or other bone damage in their leg.
Another article from 2022 warned that vegetarian women are at greater risk of breaking their hips later in life than meat eaters.
It involved 26,000 middle-aged women and revealed that those who didn’t eat meat had a 33 percent higher risk of bone fractures. Although these women still consumed milk and eggs, the results also suggest that vegans are at greater risk.
The team leading the new study said more research still needs to be done on other populations, as the Nurse’s Health Study included mostly white women in healthcare.
‘The data from the study was generally very homogeneous in terms of demographic and socio-economic composition, so it will be valuable to conduct a study in cohorts that are more diverse,’ said Dr Ardisson Korat.
‘It is a field that is still developing.’
The research was published in the journal on Wednesday American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.