Plant-Based Diets Lower Risk for Heart Failure

Plant-based diets lower your risk for heart failure, according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Researchers compared plant-based, Southern, and three other eating patterns with heart disease incidence rates. Those who followed a plant-based diet had a 41 percent lower risk for heart failure when compared to those with the lowest adherence to a plant-based diet. A Southern-style dietary pattern rich in fried foods and processed meat increased the risk of heart failure by 72 percent, compared with those who ate fewer of the foods associated with that pattern. Antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds associated with plant-based diets may explain the decreased risk for heart disease.