Plant-based foods reduce the risk of heart disease, Diabetes, and mortality

In a recent study published in BMC Medicine, researchers conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of replacing animal-based foods with plant-based alternatives on cardiometabolic health and all-cause mortality. In the study, the research team reviewed 32 studies.

The meta-analyses revealed that for total cardiovascular death (CVD), replacing processed meat with nuts, legumes, or whole grains, eggs with nuts, and butter with olive oil were all associated with a lower incidence of total CVD. Regarding single CVD outcomes, moderate certainty of evidence was observed for lower CVD mortality when replacing eggs with nuts and butter with olive oil. For coronary heart disease (CHD) incidence, replacing processed meat with nuts showed a lower risk, but the evidence was low for other substitutions.

For Type 2 Diabetes, moderate certainty of evidence indicated a lower risk when replacing red meat with nuts or whole grains or cereals, processed meat with nuts, and poultry with entire grains.

Regarding all-cause mortality, moderate certainty of evidence supported a reduced risk when substituting red meat, processed meat, and dairy with nuts or legumes; eggs with nuts or legumes; and butter with olive oil. However, the certainty of evidence for other associations was low or very low.

BMC Medicine, 2023