Many people switch to being vegetarian, or vegan as part of their New Year resolutions. And there is something new called the nonvegan – meaning they do not eat dairy products but eat chicken and meat, similar to the meat-free Mondays that went viral a few years back.
A study now published about gut health tries to seek and find which of the three diets do humans benefit the most from. Being vegan, vegetarian, or non-vegetarian really does not have a big impact on your gut health as long as they are well balanced.
The study mentioned that vegan diets are more beneficial for gut bacteria when compared to meat eaters as they cause inflammation and increase the risk of colon cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. It also mentioned that vegetarians did not have much harmful bacteria in their gut but it had its own effect.
The study was conducted by the company Zoe and it looked over the data of 21,000 participants who consumed vegan diets and it showed results that helped their guts.
The plant-rich diet leads to a healthier microbiome composition in the gut which reduces the risk of chronic diseases. It mentioned how the more vegan or vegetarian diet you follow that has high vitamin and fiber content, the gut becomes happy.
The study also stresses how certain foods have a unique impact on the gut. It indicated that people who consume both vegetarian and meat might share microbial signatures in their gut if it is well balanced.
The British Nutrition Foundation mentioned that vegetarian diets include fruit, vegetables, and whole grains which are rich in fiber and lower in saturated fat and sugar than those which include meat. It added that vegetarians are likely to be more physically active because of the less fat content in the food.
The study mentioned that vegan or vegetarian diets are better for gut health due to their high fiber and prebiotic content, and at the same time, a non-veg diet can help support gut health if it includes maximised consumption of plant-based food and minimised consumption of processed meat.
Gut Health Benefits
A high intake of fiber is crucial for the gut microbiome so make sure to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. Whichever diet you follow, increase your intake of foods like yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, or tempeh to support healthy gut bacteria. Also, limit the consumption of highly processed foods as it can negatively impact gut health.