Is the modern vegetarian diet as healthy as it used to be?

David, Vlaicu (2024) Is the modern vegetarian diet as healthy as it used to be? Bachelor's Thesis, Biology.

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Abstract

Recently there has been an increase in people choosing a vegetarian diet, due to a variety of reasons, including the availability of plant-based meat alternatives. This modern vegetarian diet is marketed as being just as healthy as what is traditionally considered to be a vegetarian diet, despite the fact that its effects on health are not entirely understood. The aim of this thesis is to elucidate the health outcomes of both, by comparing the nutritional composition of these variants and the standard diet (which includes meat). Generally, a vegetarian diet leads to less intake of protein, total and saturated fats and vitamin B12 than a meat diet. It also encompasses a higher consumption of fiber, carbohydrates and sodium. When comparing vegetarian diets, a few patterns emerge. A traditional diet is defined by a high intake of whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and whole grains, whereas the modern one relies more on takeout, snacks and ultra-processed foods that are meant to replace meat. The findings reveal clear differences between the two vegetarian diets. The traditional one has been shown to have positive health benefits, including lower risks for metabolic syndrome, neurodegenerative diseases and certain cancers. Conversely, the modern diet relying on ultra-processed foods can lead to nutritional deficiencies and adverse health effects due to higher intake of saturated fats, sodium and industrial additives. Ultimately, the modern vegetarian diet is not as healthy as the traditional one. To maintain health, it is important to eat a variety of whole foods and avoid relying on convenient ultra-processed foods and to pay extra attention to the claims made on labels, which exaggerate the healthfulness of products.

Item Type:	Thesis (Bachelor's Thesis)
Supervisor name:	Scheurink, A.J.W.
Degree programme:	Biology
Thesis type:	Bachelor's Thesis
Language:	English
Date Deposited:	08 Jul 2024 07:48
Last Modified:	19 Jul 2024 12:22
URI:	https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/32821

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