Eating more plant-based protein reduces risk of heart disease
Diets that prioritize plant-based proteins are associated with significant reductions in the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and coronary artery disease (CAD), according to new data published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.[1]
The analysis focused on the ratio of plant protein to animal protein in more than 200,000 adults who participated in the Nurses’ Health Study I, Nurses’ Health Study II and Health Professionals Follow-up Study. Tracking up to 30 years of follow-up data, researchers documented more than 16,000 cases of CVD, more than 10,000 cases of CAD and more than 6,000 strokes.
After making certain adjustments based on medical histories and demographics, the group determined that eating a higher ratio of plant protein to animal protein was associated with as much as a 19% lower risk of CVD and as much as a 27% lower risk of CAD. Stroke risk, however, was not significantly influenced by such dietary changes.
“Most of us need to begin shifting our diets toward plant-based proteins,” senior author Frank Hu, MD, MPH, PhD, a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said in a prepared statement out of Harvard University. “We can do so by cutting down on meat, especially red and processed meats, and eating more legumes and nuts. Such a dietary pattern is beneficial not just for human health but also the health of our planet.”
“The average American eats a 1:3 plant to animal protein ratio,” added lead author Andrea Glenn, MSc, RD, PhD, an assistant professor of nutrition with the Harvard Chan School. “Our findings suggest a ratio of at least 1:2 is much more effective in preventing CVD.”
Click here to view the full analysis in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, an American Society for Nutrition journal.
Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.