Deceiving Headlines, Veggies For Women & A Natural Nightcap

Introduction (00:00 – 05:16)

First Segment: Trending Topics

First Topic (05:17 – 14:05): Are vegan proteins better than meat proteins?

In a long-term study, researchers from California and France looked at whether protein from nuts and seeds might promote better heart health than protein from meat. Is this good news for vegans and bad news for people who like to make fun of them? Or do the findings leave our hosts with more questions to consider? Janet and Emily look beyond the headline to explain the study, and how the study itself is different from what the headlines might lead us to believe.

• The study authors were specifically focusing on the proteins, not the vegan diet as a whole, and don’t specify what other factors were in play, e.g. were they processed meats? What other sources of protein were consumed? What was the rest of the diet like – clean and real? High in sugar? Supported by lots of vegetables?
• Where might the ‘sweet spot’ be?

Link to articles: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/vegan-protein-healthier-nuts-seeds-meat-heart-disease-study-california-france-a8291506.html

Note that the ‘plant-based’ diet in this second report is actually not vegan, but more like a Mediterranean diet because it includes fish:

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/plant-based-diet-heart-failure-risk-reduce-scientists-eating-food-ingredients-a8054016.html

Link to Studies: https://academic.oup.com/ije/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/ije/dyy030/4924399?redirectedFrom=fulltext

Not all plant-based diets come out on top, as there is a wide variation in the nutritional quality of plant foods. This study found the vegetarian diet increased heart problems:

http://www.onlinejacc.org/content/70/4/411?download=true&sso=1&sso_redirect_count=1&access_token

Second Topic (14:05 – 22:29): Can Vegetables Ward Off Heart Disease?

Research has shown that eating broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts can be particularly beneficial for elderly women, decreasing the likelihood of stroke and heart disease. They compared five categories of healthy vegetables in this study (hey! Healthy vs. healthy for a change!), and saw a positive correlation between cruciferous vegetables and corotid artery thickness. Is the study strong enough to make cruciferous vegetables a high priority in your diet? Janet and Emily talk about what these veggies can do for your body!

• Emily’s favourite ways to prepare these vegetables include steamed broccoli with butter and salt and fermented cabbage products like sauerkraut. Her children love broccoli, but she has to sneak cabbage into their meals!
• Janet loves pureeing cauliflower in soups to offset carbs brought in by things like lentils while adding some body to the dish; sautéing cabbage in butter with onions, garlic, and toasted sesame; and Brussels Sprouts! If you’re not a fan of the last veggie, a good way to prepare it is to cut them in half and sauté them, rather than boiling them until they’re mushy. You’ll find a great recipe in Janet’s book Share Goodness on page 32.

Link to article: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/apr/05/eat-your-brussels-scientists-say-vegetable-provides-heart-benefits-to-older-women