Got Rheumatoid Arthritis? Go Vegan.

March 18, 2008

This is not exactly news, but some news outlets think it is. BBC reports:

“Rheumatoid arthritis patients may be able to reduce their high risk of heart attacks and strokes with a gluten-free, vegan diet, a study suggests.

“[...]an Arthritis Research and Therapy study found those who pursued a vegan regime had less ‘bad’ cholesterol.”

Duh. Vegans don’t eat any cholesterol. If you’re trying to manage your cholesterol, a plant-based diet is the best way to go. Why? Because plants don’t have any cholesterol. Cholesterol is ONLY found in animal products.

“They placed 38 volunteers on the [vegan] diet, in which protein accounted for 10% of daily energy intake, carbohydrate 60% and fat for 30%.

“It included nuts, sunflower seeds, fruit and vegetables, millet and corn. Sesame milk provided a daily source of calcium.

“A further 28 volunteers followed a healthy diet with approximately the same proportions of protein, carbohydrate and fat.

“Saturated fats were not to make up more than 10% of daily energy intake, and wholegrain products were to be chosen as often as possible.

“Those on the vegan diet showed a decrease in the total level of cholesterol and specifically a reduction in the amount of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), also known as ‘bad cholesterol’.

I”n contrast, those on the non-vegan diet showed no significant variations in these levels.”

The reason I say it’s not news is that plenty of people with arthritis go vegan to help manage their disease. It’s one of the reasons my mom is primarily vegan. She has arthritis that she manages with diet, supplements, and other natural remedies.

Read more commentary at Taste Better and Vegan Bits both of whom disagree with one of the article’s statements.