Cardiovascular Diseases May Be Prevented By Following Plant-Based Diet, Study Says

Cardiovascular diseases are the major cause of death worldwide and it could be prevented by focussing on a plant-based diet, says a study. The study found that consuming large quantities of whole grains, fruits and vegetables on a daily basis can be good for heart health.

The research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association focussed on the association between plant-based diets and cardiovascular diseases. The study stated that those who consumed healthy, plant-based diet are less likely to suffer from heart disease and die than those who consume refined carbohydrates and meat in large quantities.

In the United States, nearly 630,000 people die from cardiovascular diseases every year. In other words, one in every four deaths in the country is caused due to this illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Previous studies have found that unhealthy diet is a major cause for this chronic disease. The latest research also stressed on the importance of focussing on a healthy, plant-based diet for heart health.

“Plant-based diets seem to be rising in popularity, and our study provides more evidence suggesting that consuming a plant-based diet can be good for your heart health,” lead researcher Casey Rebholz told Reuters.

“People should ensure that they are consuming enough fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and limit their intake of red and processed meat,” Rebholz, who is a researcher at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, added.

For the study, the researchers observed a total of 12,168 middle-aged adults for more than three decades and analyzed their eating habits. The participants of the study were divided into four groups based on their eating habits.

The first group followed an entirely vegetarian diet; the second group consumed green vegetables; the third group had unhealthy plants, like potatoes; and the fourth group focussed on an overall plant-based meals.

At the beginning of the study, the participants were aged between 45 and 64 and none of them were diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. These participants were also less likely to have diabetes or high blood pressure or they were less likely to be smokers or obese, the researchers stated.

At the end of the research, the scientists found that those who followed a vegetarian or plant-based diet were mostly physically active, white, women and high school graduates.

Among the 5,436 participants died during the study, 1,565 people died due to cardiovascular diseases, the study stated. The research also found that those who consumed healthy plant-based foods were 16 percent less likely to be diagnosed with heart disease compared with those who had refined carbs and animal products.