Why Vegetarians Are Usually Healthier (But Not Necessarily)

Plant-based diets are gaining popularity in Hong Kong and Singapore, and restaurants are offering more vegetarian and vegan options for consumers – which is great!

However, not everyone becomes a vegetarian based on an informed decision, that is, a decision based on facts and not myths.

A common rationale for going vegetarian is that ‘meat is harmful for health’, and while the research does often show that vegetarians are healthier than meat-eaters, this is not solely due to the removal of meat. I would in fact argue that the reduction or removal of animal-based products only plays a small role in improving overall health.

If we take a closer look at the research, the average vegetarian has a higher fibre intake,  higher income and higher education. They are also less likely to smoke and drink alcohol excessively, while being more likely to participate in physical activity and pay attention to their overall dietary choices.

As you can see, there are so many factors that could potentially (and are highly likely to) enhance overall health outcomes.

This is called the ‘healthy user bias’, where people who engage in one healthy behaviour are also more likely to engage in other health-promoting behaviours.

When studies compared health-seeking vegetarians and health-seeking meat-eaters by recruiting people at health-food stores, researchers found no difference in health outcomes across groups. These findings suggest that when people have a healthy lifestyle and diet which incorporates a variety of whole-foods, fibre and healthy fats, removing meat is not necessary to achieve an optimal diet.

What does this tell us?

A vegetarian diet is not inherently better or healthier than a diet that includes meat.

Rather than focusing on what you should eliminate (e.g. meat), it is likely more useful to look at what your overall dietary pattern and lifestyle incorporates.

If your diet comprises of lots of fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, healthy fats and other whole foods, adding some meat into your meal is going to be completely fine and not detrimental towards health.

On the other hand, if you are vegetarian, but your diet is comprised mainly of processed low-fibre foods, you may very well be less well-off compared to a health-seeking meat-eater. A poorly set-up vegetarian or vegan diet could also mean that you’re missing out on some essential nutrients such as vitamin B12 or iron.

If you want to learn more about vegetarian diets or get some guidance on transitioning to a vegetarian diet, get in touch with us.