Plant-based diets focus mainly on plants/plant sources of nutrition. They consist of a diverse family of dietary patterns and are defined in terms of low frequency of consumption of animal foods.
Eating more plant-based foods could do a world of good for our health and the health of the planet. Eating plant-based does not always mean having to adopt a completely meat-free diet, it is in fact the quality of the plant-based diet that is the most important factor to consider. Not all plant-source foods have beneficial heart health effects. A good quality plant-based diet can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes which in itself is a risk factor for heart disease.
A very interesting study demonstrated that people who ate more whole fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, legumes, olive oil, coffee, & tea showed a much lower risk for CVD, while those who ate more unhealthy plant-based foods, like sugar-sweetened beverages, refined grains, & sweets, did not.
There has also been growing interest in gut bacteria and health. In addition to maintaining cholesterol levels, vegetable proteins such as soybean and pea may influence the gut which is of relevance as ensuring a good diet influences the gut microbiota which in turn can influence diseases such as heart disease. For most people, the complete elimination of meat or animal products is oftentimes unrealistic.
The good news is that studies show that adopting a completely vegetarian or vegan diet, is not necessary for improved cardiovascular health. Healthy plant-based diets can be customised to fit individual needs and cultural preferences.
A small reduction of animal-based products – particularly processed meats – can significantly help improve cardiovascular health.
For more information on good quality plant-based foods, heart health and recipes, visit our website,www.heartfoundation.co.za
Originally posted on Heart & Stroke Foundation
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