healthcare Archives - Plant Based News

Half Of US Adults Believe Plant-Based Diets Can Improve Health, Survey Finds

Liam Pritchett — Thu, 15 May 2025 17:00:00 +0000

According to a new survey, half of US adults say “they know” that eating a plant-based diet can improve their health and help to reduce the risk of chronic disease.

Sixty-five percent said they would be willing to try a plant-based diet if shown evidence of the health benefits. Despite this significant interest, the survey also found that just one out of five primary care practitioners choose to discuss plant-based diets with their patients.

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and Morning Consult carried out the research, which surveyed 2,203 US adults from April 15 to April 16, 2025. Just one percent of US adults are currently vegan.

“What’s missing […] is support and guidance from health care professionals,” said Xavier Toledo, a PCRM-affiliated registered dietitian. “This represents a huge missed opportunity to turn interest into action – and to reduce the risk of chronic diseases that affect millions.”

Plant-based diets, preventative medicine, and healthcare

Adobe Stock Dietician Xavier Toledo described the lack of guidance from health professionals on plant-based diets and health as a “missed opportunity”

The new survey follows several recent studies on the potential of plant-based diets to reduce chronic disease risk, promote health, and save money for healthcare providers.

A study by Dr Shireem Kassam and Dr Laura Jane Smith of Plant Based Health Professionals UK highlighted the potential of plant-based diets to tackle the “intertwined crises” of health, inequality, and climate change. However, they also noted that nutrition education in healthcare is falling short when it comes to plant-based foods and lifestyles.

In November, another study found that three-quarters of UK dieticians incorrectly believe that plant-based proteins are incomplete. In the US, PCRM offers plant-based dietary information to medical and nursing students who wish to learn about meat-free health and nutrition.

This article was written by Liam Pritchett on the PBN Website.

Vegan and Vegetarian Diets On The Rise In UK Care Homes

Claire Hamlett — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 13:21:58 +0000

Care homes in the UK have seen a 24 percent rise in vegan and vegetarian residents over the past decade, according to a new survey.

Vegetarian for Life, a charity specialising in plant-based diets for older people, surveyed 1,000 care homes across the country. It found that there are now more than 8,000 vegan and vegetarian care home residents as of this year, compared to around 6,500 in 2014. Nearly a third of care homes now cater to at least one vegan or vegetarian resident, a rise of 39 percent in ten years.

“The move towards plant-based diets isn’t just for younger generations,” Amanda Woodvine, Chief Executive of Vegetarian for Life, said in a statement. “We’re seeing more people in later life adopting vegan and vegetarian lifestyles for ethical, environmental, and health reasons. Care homes across the UK need to respond to these preferences, both to meet current demand and to prepare for a future where dietary choice is central to individual care.”

There are more than 425,000 people living in care homes in the UK, with the majority being 65 or older. As they are more at risk of poor nutrition, it’s essential that care homes are able to provide them with healthy and appropriate food. They are required under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 to meet residents’ dietary preferences according to beliefs and culture as well as for health needs.

Guidance for care homes

vaaseenaa – stock.adobe.com Vegan diets have been linked to healthier aging

Vegetarian for Life has launched a guide for care homes, Gourmet Vegan, to raise the standards of vegan food both health and taste-wise. It provides caterers with recipe and food presentation ideas to give vegan and vegetarian residents fine dining experiences that contribute to improving their quality of life.

The launch took place during the charity’s recent Awards for Excellence in vegan and vegetarian care home catering at the Houses of Parliament.

“We’re proud to celebrate those who are raising the bar in care catering,” said Woodvine. “This includes hospitals, care homes, and catering teams that are responding to the changing tastes and ethical choices of today’s aging population.”

Plant-based diets for healthy aging

Several studies have shown that eating a plant-based diet can promote healthy aging. One found that women in midlife who eat more plant-based protein had a significantly lower risk in developing chronic diseases in older age. Others have shown that eating more plants and less meat lowers the risk of heart disease, a leading killer of older people.

Meanwhile, a recent study of twins found that a vegan diet can actually lower your biological age. Pairs of twins each ate either vegan or healthy omnivorous diets for two months; the former showed significant decreases in biological aging at the end of the study.

This article was written by Claire Hamlett on the PBN Website.

Three-Quarters Of UK Dietitians Falsely Believe Plant Proteins Are Incomplete, Study Finds

Liam Pritchett — Sun, 10 Nov 2024 17:00:00 +0000

A new study has found that while most UK dietitians are willing to recommend plant-based diets to patients, 75 percent incorrectly believe that plant protein is “incomplete.”

The study was published earlier this month in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics (JHND). It was led by Michael Metoudi, research dietitian for Plant Based Health Professionals UK (PBHP UK). Its authors note the need for “enhanced education and support” on plant-based diets to overcome “significant barriers to their implementation.”

The cross-sectional survey was conducted amongst registered dietitians in the UK and the Republic of Ireland between September and November last year. It features 335 participants, the majority of whom hold positive views of whole-food plant-based diets.

Around 76 percent of those surveyed agreed that a well-planned whole foods plant-based diet is “suitable for all stages of life.”

However, the survey also found “considerable knowledge deficits” related to current clinical evidence for whole-food plant-based diets. In particular, the authors note that 75 percent of surveyed dietitians “falsely believed” that plant proteins are “incomplete.”

Plant-based foods and ‘complete’ proteins

Adobe Stock Most plant-based proteins are actually complete, though eating a varied and nutrient-dense diet is the best way to ensure optimal health

It is a longstanding myth that animal-based foods are the only sources of complete protein, meaning proteins that contain all nine essential amino acids in appropriate amounts.

In fact, many experts believe that amino acid deficiency has been “substantially overstated.” Plant-based physician Dr Neal Bernard recently argued that while a varied diet is desirable and ensures better overall nutrition, “all plants contain all indispensable amino acids.”

“It was shocking to us to learn that myths around the quality of plant protein still exist amongst registered dietitians,” Dr Shireen Kassam, consultant hematologist, founder of PBHP UK, and one of the study authors told Plant Based News. “It shows that education with the UK has not kept pace with the science. The concept of protein combining on a plant-based diet was debunked decades ago. All plants contain all amino acids, including essential ones. Choosing to obtain most or all of your protein from plants has numerous benefits for both human and planetary health.”

Many of the dietitians surveyed for the new study were also worried about possible malnutrition and nutrient deficiencies, as well as the potential risk of a restrictive lifestyle exacerbating eating disorders. As with any diet, prioritizing varied, nutrient-dense foods is an essential part of meeting your daily needs with a healthy plant-based diet.

The study’s authors note that unsupportive work environments and the need to exclude eggs and dairy are the main impediments to dietitians themselves adopting a whole food plant-based diet. When it comes to dietitians’ patients, uncertainty around cooking skills and perceived financial costs were the main barriers to more plant-based eating.

This article was written by Liam Pritchett on the PBN Website.

The NHS Could Save £6.7 Billion A Year If Everyone Ate Plant Based, Says Study

Daniel Clark — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 13:52:47 +0000

If everyone in England switched to a plant-based diet, the NHS could save around £6.7 billion a year, according to new analysis from the Office of Health Economics.

Fully plant-based diets could result in 2.1  million fewer cases of disease across England, the study found. Furthermore, it could result in a gain of more than 170,000 quality-adjusted life years.

Research has shown that plant-based diets come with lower risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Author Dr Chris Sampson said in a statement: ”There is now compelling evidence that plant-based diets can benefit people’s health. Our analysis takes a significant step towards understanding how dietary choices impact population health and NHS expenditure overall.”

Huge saving for the NHS with plant-based diets

The study combined estimates for the prevalence of diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes. Research shows that these would be greatly reduced with a full uptake of plant-based diets.

Meat consumption has already fallen to its lowest levels on record in the UK. Plant-based diets usually contain healthy whole grains, nuts, legumes, fruits, and vegetables. Meanwhile, they exclude the saturated fat and cholesterol found in meat, milk, and eggs.

Adobe Stock The government could save money for the NHS by promoting healthier plant-based diets

Funding for seven hospitals

The analysis, funded by The Vegan Society, puts a figure to the economic benefits of plant-based diets.

The £6.7 billion saved by everyone going plant-based could cover the full yearly budget of up to seven of England’s hospitals, the study said. Alternatively, it could pay the annual salaries of 64,990 consultants or 184,920 nurses.

Even a partial uptick in veganism would see sizeable benefits. For every one million people who become vegan, the study found, the NHS would benefit from an estimated £121 million saving in healthcare costs.

The huge savings laid out in the report show how policymakers could frame any intervention in encouraging healthy dietary changes.

Claire Ogley, Head of Campaigns, Policy and Research for the Vegan Society, commented:  “As the report illustrates, wider uptake of plant-based diets could free up billions of pounds of funding to invest back into England’s hospitals and services. Policymakers should consider supporting and encouraging plant-based diets as part of public health campaigns to realize these benefits to the health service in the UK.” 

Plant-based policies

The report comes at a time when governments, councils, and universities are starting to recognize the benefits of plant-based policies.

In 2023, Oxford City Council voted to serve only plant-based food at all internal events. Meanwhile, successful student votes at universities including Stirling and Kent have led to only plant-based meals being served on campus.

On the national level, Denmark became the first country to create a roadmap to transition towards a more plant-based food system. The country cited environmental and health reasons as guiding the policy.

The German government also announced “groundbreaking” investment in plant-based food as part of its recent Food and Nutrition Strategy.

More like this:

This article was written by Daniel Clark on the PBN Website.

Antibiotic Overuse On UK Factory Farms ‘Could Kill Over 52,000 Humans By 2050’

Daniel Clark — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 14:00:00 +0000

Antibiotic overuse on UK factory farms caused almost 2,000 human deaths last year, according to a new report by World Animal Protection UK.

Titled ‘Is factory farming killing us?’, the report looked at the effects of intensive animal farming on human health and the economy. It revealed that bacteria linked to antibiotic use in factory farms are predicted to cause more than 52,000 deaths between now and 2050 unless action is taken.

The European Union (EU) introduced a ban on the routine preventative use of antibiotics on farms in 2022. World Animal Protection is leading a campaign calling on the UK government to do the same.

Lindsay Duncan, World Animal Protection UK Farming Campaigns Manager, told Plant Based News: “We hope this report highlights to the UK government the importance of matching the EU regulations banning the routine and preventative use of antibiotics on farms.”

What are antibiotics?

Antibiotics are a class of drugs that are used to treat bacterial infections.

Three quarters of the world’s antibiotics are currently used on farmed animals. Most are not given to animals to treat specific illnesses. Instead, they are often routinely used to prevent illness and infections resulting from the conditions in which the animals are kept.

Such overuse of antibiotics is responsible for antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR is a threat to human health because it could make some common diseases untreatable.

Humans killed by factory farming

The intensive way in which animals are farmed puts a huge stress on their immune systems. In the UK, 85 percent of farmed animals live on factory farms.

Excessive use of antibiotics causes drug-resistant bacteria to emerge. In turn, these bacteria contaminate the environment. Last year, World Animal Protection released a report that highlighted the contamination of UK rivers by antibiotic overuse.

As a result, some human illnesses are becoming untreatable. Experts have called AMR “one of the biggest threats to global health” the world currently faces. The report outlines that more than 2,400 people a year could die from antibiotic overuse on factory farms by 2050.

Dr Ron Daniels of the UK Sepsis Trust said: “In the UK, the recent reduction by the farming industry of antibiotic use doesn’t go far enough. We must end the routine preventative use of antibiotics to reduce the human health and economic burden of AMR. To do this we have to raise animal welfare.”

Animals suffer on factory farms

Adobe Stock Factory farms are rife with animal cruelty

Animals remain the biggest victims of factory farms. Investigations, including one last year by World Animal Protection, have revealed countless cases of mistreatment. This includes piglets with cut tails, mother pigs in metal cages, and chickens struggling to breathe.

However, meat production does not only harm animals. The report revealed that UK farmers have reduced antibiotic usage per kilo of animal in recent years. However, the number of animals raised for meat is rising. As such, by 2050 the amount of antibiotics used will increase by 6.9 percent.

Loopholes in the law

Earlier this year, the UK government published draft legislation to stop farmers routinely giving animals antibiotics as a preventative measure. However, campaigners say that the ban does not go far enough and that loopholes remain.

“The prophylactic use of antibiotics often overlaps with the routine use of antibiotics on farms and banning one without the other will most likely result in unforeseen loopholes that would allow for business as usual,” World Animal Protection states in its petition.

Duncan told PBN: “Despite promises to bring in like-for-like regulations [with the EU] and a consultation earlier this year, the UK has yet to implement further restrictions that would ensure responsible antibiotic use.”

Economic impacts complete the picture

The report also revealed losses to the UK economy from antibiotics overuse on factory farms totalled £1.32 billion in 2022.

In total, the UK lost nearly 40,000 work years (DALYs) in 2022 due to E. coli and non-typhoidal Salmonella. These bacteria are linked to antibiotic use in factory farms.

The researchers estimate that productive years lost due to illnesses and deaths will be over 1 million by 2050. This will cost the economy £37.55 billion.

Public “shocked” about impacts of antibiotic overuse

According to the report, three in five people in the UK feel “shocked” that humans might suffer due to the overuse of antibiotics on factory farms.

Moreover, seven in ten people say they support a ban on routine and preventative use of antibiotics on farmed animals.

Duncan added: “70 percent of people in the UK support a ban and we hope that the public signing our open letter calling for a full ban on the routine preventative use of antibiotics will influence the government to bring in these regulations and implement them quickly.”

More like this:

This article was written by Daniel Clark on the PBN Website.