Vegetarian and Mediterranean diets are equally effective

Vegetarian and Mediterranean diets are equally effective, new research suggests.

Cutting out meat causes people to lose around 4.2lbs (1.9kg) after three months, a study found.

Whereas following a Mediterranean diet, which is rich in olive oil, vegetables and fish, leads to people shedding 3.9lbs (1.8kg), the research adds.

The two diets are also thought to have comparable effects on the heart as both cause similar BMI and fat-mass changes, the research adds.

These similar outcomes may be due to both vegetarian and Mediterranean ways of eating limiting people's saturated fat intakes.

Study author Dr Francesco Sofi from the University of Florence and Careggi University Hospital, said: 'The take-home message of our study is that a low-calorie vegetarian diet can help patients reduce cardiovascular risk about the same as a low-calorie Mediterranean diet.

'People have more than one choice for a heart-healthy diet.'

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