Plant-Based Diets and Heart Health

A recent study showed that those who ate a diet rich in mostly plant foods, while still consuming some animal foods had a lower risk of heart disease and dying from a heart attack. The study consisted of over 10,000 adults whose health had been monitored for around 30 years. Those who ate more plant-based foods had a 32% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and a 25% lower risk of early death compared to those who had animal-based diets and consumed less plant foods. This was one of the first studies to show that eating plant-based diets that are not full-on vegetarian or vegan can still have heart-health benefits. Reducing animal-based foods, like meat, eggs, and dairy, and increasing plant-based foods, like fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and legumes, may have a positive impact on heart health and mortality. The American Heart Association recommends eating plant-based foods that are lower in added sugar, sodium, saturated fats, and trans fats. This was an observational study, so it does not indicate a causal relationship between plant-based eating patterns and cardiovascular disease; however, it does show that consuming a more plant-based diet may have a positive impact.

Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/190807092326.htm