The Journal of Nutrition published a study of 840 people eating five different diets and found that vegans had the healthiest results.

Study participants gave blood, urine and fat samples, which were then examined by scientists for various biomarkers. The study found that vegans had the highest levels of an antioxidant called carotenoids, which has been found to decrease the risk of disease. This is presumably because vegans consumed more vegetables and fruits than the other study participants.

Vegan participants also had the highest amount of enterolactone, a compound that may decrease inflammation. High levels of chronic inflammation are linked to a number of diseases, including cancer.

Researchers were surprised to find that vegans had the most omega-3 fatty acids in their bodies, a nutrient often associated with fish. These results were due to foods such as walnuts, flaxseeds and chia seeds, which also contain a high amount of omega-3s.

Cover image via Imaxtree