Vegetarians are healthier EVEN IF they SMOKE?! | Autopsy of a Headline episode artwork

EPISODE · Sep 15, 2026 · 6 MIN

Vegetarians are healthier EVEN IF they SMOKE?! | Autopsy of a Headline

from Nutrition Made Simple! · host Nutrition Made Simple!

UPDATE: A resourceful viewer (see pinned comment below) contacted the website The Hill about this and they made multiple changes to the article accordingly!! updated version reflects many of the points made in this video: https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/longevity/552976-vegetarians-who-drink-and-smoke-a-lot-are-stillthank you to our incredible viewers and to The Hill. We should always assume best intentions.The website The Hill previously reported that "Vegetarians who drink and smoke a lot are still healthier than meat-eaters". Is this accurate?! What's behind this head-turning headline and how did it come about? An autopsy of media reporting on scientific findings and a primer on how to protect ourselves from confusion!A recent headline claimed vegetarians are healthier than meat-eaters even if they smoke and drink... a lot!! What is this news based on and does it have substance?THE HILL posted this attention-grabbing headline: Vegetarians who drink and smoke a lot are still healthier than meat-eaters, big new study findsbody of the article: “vegetarians are healthier than meat-lovers even if they are smokers and drinkers” they measured blood markers like cholesterol, vitamin D etc in vegetarians and meat eaters. some were higher in vegetarians, some were lower.They conclude the vegetarians had more favourable biomarkers. The model was adjusted for smoking, alcohol etc. that means they tried to isolate the effect of diet aside from other variables"the results were independent of lifestyle confounding factors". the biomarker differences they saw are when smoking and drinking are off the tableThe press release says the findings are unaffected by smoking and alcohol. We don’t know if they’re affected by smoking, they dont show the results with and without smoking. At least the press release still refers to biomarkersThe 1st website got rid of biomarkers and just says vegetarians are healthier, regardless of how much they drink and smoke. and the Hill says they’re healthier even if they drink and smoke a lotthe researchers adjusted for alcohol and tobacco, so their results are in a scenario where smoking and alcohol are NOT a factor. the opposite of what the headlines sayThe final headline is inaccurate on almost everything. Its inaccurate to say its when they drink and smoke and to say they’re healthier, they only measured biomarkers, and not all were better on vegetarians.Connect with me:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrGilCarvalho/Twitter: https://twitter.com/NutritionMadeS3Animations: Even Topland @toplandmediaReferences:https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/longevity/552976-vegetarians-who-drink-and-smoke-a-lot-are-stillhttps://www.studyfinds.org/vegetarians-healthier-than-meat-eaters/https://easo.org/vegetarians-have-healthier-biomarker-profiles-than-meat-eaters/https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x36ciytIkM2HWsrG-EYB-o4h2GpFSt-i/viewDisclaimer: The contents of this video are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, nor to replace medical care. The information presented herein is accurate and conforms to the available scientific evidence to the best of the author's knowledge as of the time of posting. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding any medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of information contained in Nutrition Made Simple!.#NutritionMadeSimple #GilCarvalho Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Vegetarians are healthier EVEN IF they SMOKE?! | Autopsy of a Headline

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