Does a Pescatarian diet confer more overall health benefits than a Vegetarian or Vegan diet?
Check out this answer from Consensus:
Both pescatarian and vegetarian diets offer significant health benefits, particularly in terms of cardiovascular health and diet quality. Vegan diets, while effective in reducing body fat and improving body composition, may require careful management to avoid excessive intake of saturated fats from substitute products. Overall, the choice between pescatarian, vegetarian, and vegan diets should be based on individual health goals, nutritional needs, and environmental considerations.
The debate over the health benefits of various plant-based diets, including pescatarian, vegetarian, and vegan diets, has been ongoing. Each diet has its unique characteristics and potential health impacts. This article aims to compare the overall health benefits of pescatarian diets with those of vegetarian and vegan diets, drawing on recent research findings.
Nutritional Status and Body Composition
A study assessing the nutritional habits and body composition among different dietary groups found significant differences between pescatarians, vegetarians, and vegans. The study revealed that vegans had the lowest average values of body fat mass, percentage body fat, and visceral adipose tissue compared to other groups, including pescatarians and vegetarians1. This suggests that a vegan diet may be more effective in reducing body fat and improving body composition.
Cardiovascular Health
Research conducted in a Swiss urban population indicated that vegetarian diets, including pescatarian diets, are associated with a more favorable cardiovascular risk profile compared to omnivorous diets. Participants who adhered to any diet excluding or reducing meat intake, such as vegetarian and pescatarian diets, had lower BMI, total cholesterol, and hypertension levels2. This finding highlights the cardiovascular benefits of both pescatarian and vegetarian diets.
Environmental Impact and Diet Quality
A study evaluating the carbon footprint and diet quality of various popular diets in the US found that vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian diets had significantly lower carbon footprints compared to omnivorous diets. Additionally, the diet quality, as measured by the Healthy Eating Index, was higher for vegetarian and pescatarian diets compared to omnivorous diets3. This suggests that both vegetarian and pescatarian diets are not only environmentally sustainable but also nutritionally superior.
Consumption of Meat and Dairy Substitutes
An examination of the consumption of meat and dairy substitute products among vegans, vegetarians, and pescatarians in Norway revealed that these products are regularly included in plant-based diets. The study found that substitute products contributed to higher protein intake in vegans compared to pescatarians and vegetarians. However, these products also contributed to higher saturated fatty acid intake among vegans4. This indicates that while substitute products can enhance protein intake, they may also increase the intake of less desirable nutrients like saturated fats.
Does a Pescetarian diet confer more overall health benefits than a Vegetarian or Vegan diet?
Myriam Van Winckel has answered Uncertain
An expert from Ghent University in Nutrition
Regarding long term positive health effects, mediterrean plant-based nutrition including fish, has most evidence.
But: within vegetarian, vegan, piscitarian diets a large variation exists, making it very difficult to answer this general question