Healthful Plant-Based Diets Lower Risk of Death from Heart Disease

A plant-based diet lowers the risk of dying from a heart attack, according to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition. Researchers assessed diet records and cardiovascular disease-related mortality for 11,879 participants in the NHANES III study. The authors developed an index that scored plant-based and animal-based foods differently to quantify adherence to a vegetarian diet. This allowed for comparisons between plant-based diets of differing nutritional quality. A diet containing more healthful plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, lowered risk of death more than diets with less healthful foods such as sugar-sweetened beverages, sweets, or animal products. Those who followed more plant-based diets consumed more fiber, vitamin C, and folate and less cholesterol, sodium, and saturated fat.