An American Heart Association Meeting Report released last week summarises findings from studies of how plant-based diets affect humans. The specialists conclude that, “Adding high-quality plant-based foods to diet decreases risk of deaths from heart disease and other causes.”
Harvard Study Links More Plant Proteins and Less Meat to Lower Heart Disease Risk
Shifting diets to incorporate more plants and less meat is recommended for environmental and health benefits, including heart health. Researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health have found that consuming more plant-based than animal-based proteins is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and coronary heart disease (CHD). Since most diet recommendations do not mention optimal meal portions, the researchers embarked on a study to examine the associations between different plant-to-animal protein ratios and CVD risk. They analyzed 30 years of data from approximately 203,000 adults in the US, including diet, lifestyle, and heart health, with dietary intake reported every four years. The study also assessed the joint effects of the plant-to-animal protein ratio with protein density (percentage of total calories …
