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Newswise The month of November often brings about a sense of dread at the thought of food filled holiday parties and gatherings, but those who consume a plant based diet have little need for concern. A new study by the University of South Carolina confirms one big draw of saying no to all animal products: the ability to shed weight faster than those who consume a diet that contains meat and dairy. Celebrating World Vegan Month may be the answer for those looking to shed a few pounds and gain other health benefits.

The study, conducted by the universitys Arnold School of Public Health and published in The International Journal of Applied and Basic Nutritional Sciences, compared the amount of weight lost by those on vegan diets to those on a mostly plant-based diet, and those eating an omnivorous diet with a mix of animal products and plant based foods. At the end of six months, individuals on the vegan diet lost more weight than the other two groups by an average of 4.3%, or 16.5 pounds.

The study followed participants who were randomly assigned to one of five diets on the dietary spectrum: vegan which excludes all animal products, semi-vegetarian with occasional meat intake; pesco-vegetarian which excludes all meat except seafood; vegetarian which excludes all meat and seafood but includes animal products, and omnivorous, which excludes no foods.

Participants followed their assigned dietary restrictions for six months, with all groups except the omnivorous participating in weekly group meetings. Those who stuck to the vegan diet showed the greatest weight loss at the two and six month marks.

The lead author on this study, Gabrielle Turner-McGrievy notes that the diet consumed by vegan participants was high in carbohydrates that rate low on the glycemic index. Weve gotten somewhat carb-phobic here in the U.S. when it comes to weight loss. This study might help alleviate the fears of people who enjoy pasta, rice, and other grains but want to lose weight, she said.

Weight loss was not the only positive outcome for participants in the strictly vegan group. They also showed the greatest amount of decrease in their fat and saturated fat levels at the two and six month checks, had lower BMIs, and improved macro nutrients more than other diets. Eschewing all animal products appears to be key for these positive results. I personally was surprised that the pesco-vegetarian group didnt fare better with weight loss. In the end, their loss was no different than the semi-vegetarian or omnivorous groups, McGrievy said.

Turner-McGrievy is an assistant professor at the University of South Carolina in the Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior. Some of her research focuses on plant-based dietary approaches for chronic disease prevention and treatment among adults.

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Study Shows Vegan Diet Best for Weight Loss Even with Carbohydrate Consumption

MANILA - Eight Filipinas have been included in the list of nominees for this year's "sexiest vegetarian" contest organized by animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Asia.

Filipina model Amanda Griffin Jacob, who was named last year's "sexiest vegetarian" in the Philippines, leads those nominated from the country. Other past winners in the list include actress-singer Geneva Cruz and Fil-German model Sandra Seifert.

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Binibining Pilipinas winner Mary Jean Lastimosa, who will represent the country in the 2015 Miss Universe pageant, also received a nod from PETA Asia, along with singers Lougee Basabas and Nityalila Saulo.

Actors Chin Chin Guitierrez and Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan were also nominated.

"When I was eating meat, I had a lot of digestive issues," revealed Jacob, who first went vegetarian back in 2007.

"Now that I'm vegetarian, I feel wonderful both mentally and physically. Most importantly, I know I'm giving my children the best possible start in life," she said.

The eight nominees from the country are listed alongside celebrities from different parts of the world such as former U.S. President Bill Clinton and musicians Jason Mraz and Paul McCartney.

Talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres, and actors Natalie Portman, Tobey Maguire, and Jared Leto are also in the running for the title.

"When you look at the gorgeous celebrities in this year's contest, it's clear that eating vegetarian meals helps keep you beautiful inside and out," said PETA Asia vice president of international operations Jason Baker.

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LOOK: 8 Pinays nominated for 'sexiest vegetarian' title

Buoyed by the improving economy and Americans belief that they can eat themselves healthy, sales of organic food are booming again. The growth in sales of organic products in the U.S., food and nonfood, had slowed to 4.6percent in 2009 but has since rebounded. Sales rose 11.5percent in 2013, to $35billion, according to the Organic Trade Association.

Once sold primarily in musty natural foods shops, organics went wide after Whole Foods Market (WFM) took over the high end of the market, earning the nickname Whole Paycheck in the process. In recent years the mainstream has discovered more natural foods, and big chains, including Kroger (KR) and Safeway (SWY) have piled in. Sales of organic products at Costco (COST) have doubled in two years to about $3billion a year.

Now the organics industry is bracing for its next big shakeup. Wal-Mart Stores (WMT), the nations largest grocer, is expanding its selection of organic foods. And its promising to sell the stuff at the same prices it sells nonorganic food.

Most organic food costs at least 25percent more than regular fare. Wal-Mart says it will keep prices low by using Wild Oats, a well-known name in organics, as its supplier. The deal came together in 2011 after two organics industry veterans bought the Wild Oats name from Whole Foods, then recruited billionaire Ron Burkles Yucaipa Cos. as the majority owner and operator of the company. Anthony Zolezzi, who with Tim Luberski bought the name, said he visited Wal-Marts Bentonville (Ark.) headquarters 13 times to sell the company on rebooting Wild Oats as a way to sell affordable organic foods. The idea was to democratize organic to the masses, says Zolezzi. Wal-Mart now accounts for more than 90percent of Wild Oats business.

Our new, specific effort with Wild Oats, launched earlier this year, is a natural progression as we meet customer demand, says John Forrest Ales, a Wal-Mart spokesman. We are working to lower the price of organic pantry staples to be at parity with national brand nonorganic products.

Retails romance with organics has squeezed Whole Foods, which transformed the industry in the 90s by lavishly displaying organic food and repositioning it as delicious and upscale. I think for a long time Whole Foods had the field to ourselves pretty much, said John Mackey, Whole Foods co-chief executive officer, in a May earnings call. That was nice. But we dont any longer. The chain has responded to rivals by reducing prices and running its first national ad campaign.

Whole Foods bought Wild Oats, then a chain of 109 natural foods stores, in 2007. Soon after the deal was announced, the Federal Trade Commission challenged the acquisition as anticompetitive. As part of a settlement in 2009, Whole Foods agreed to sell 32 stores, as well as the rights to the name Wild Oats. (Some of the stores ultimately were sold; others were closed or converted into Whole Foods stores.)

Studies differ on whether organic food, produced without synthetic pesticides, antibiotics, or chemical fertilizer, is any more healthful than conventionally grown produce, but that hasnt slowed its appeal. Theres a growing belief among a lot of educated people, and its filtering into the mainstream, that organic is a better way to eat, says Jim Hertel, managing partner for Willard Bishop, a retail consulting company in suburban Chicago. Its kind of like the democratization of organics. Food accounts for 92percent of overall organic sales. The other 8percent includes organic clothing, personal care products, and pet food.

The biggest obstacle to continued growthand cheaper pricesis lack of supply. Farmers cant convert to organic production overnight, and in recent years there hasnt been much incentive to do so because of the high prices theyre getting for conventional products. The drought in California, where 21percent of the 14,326 organic farms in the U.S. are located, is further limiting supplies.

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Wal-Mart Promises Organic Food for Everyone

By Rebecca Brickner | Published 13 hours ago

Khin Oo (left), a sophomore healthy policy and management major, samples food from Yugalas Kitchen from Carrboro at FLOs farmers market in the Great Hall.

Rainy weather did not stop passionate local vendors from selling their goods at an on-campus farmers market Thursday.

Fair Local Organic Food, a student group known as FLO, organized the event, which offered a mix of food for sale and for free. It was the groups final farmers market of the semester.

Claire Hannapel, director of communications for FLO, has been managing the groups farmers markets since the spring.

We hold these markets because were a group of students who want to think critically about food and where it comes from, and we want to bring that conversation to campus, she said.

Because of inclement weather, the event was relocated from the Pit to the Great Hall of the Student Union.

Hannapel said FLO embraced this change because it was representative of the uncertainty that goes into growing food.

Today was more a success in terms of a learning experience instead of sales, she said. Things usually just sort of come together in unexpected ways (in farming), and today was definitely an example of that.

The Food Coalition, which seeks to increase collaboration between student groups like FLO that work to address food issues, came to the market for the first time Thursday. At least 14 food issues groups were represented at the event.

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Fair Local Organic Foods hosts nal farmers market, bringing food vendors to Union