- Changing dietary habits and increasing physical activity levels can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease later in life.
- Plant-based diets have been linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease than an omnivorous diet rich in meats and processed meats.
- A new observational study suggests that a flexitarian diet — involving limiting the intake of meat instead of its complete exclusion — was associated with lower cardiovascular risk than an omnivorous diet.
- The study underscores the benefits of increasing the consumption of plant-based foods in lieu of meat for improving cardiovascular health, but larger studies are needed to confirm these results.
Reducing the consumption of meat has been gaining popularity due to the potential health benefits and smaller environmental footprint. While studies have supported the beneficial effects of a plant-based diet on cardiovascular and overall health, whether a flexitarian diet involving a primarily plant-based diet that allows a limited amount of meat can confer similar advantages is unknown.
A new study published in
Lindsay Malone, registered dietitian and instructor at Case Western Reserve University, said, “This study shows that you do get some protective benefits from eating plant-based most of the time. You don’t have to be 100% vegan to reap the benefits.”
Experts on having a flexitarian diet
“Making the shift to exclusively plant-based is difficult, and many people don’t want to make that shift. It doesn’t have to be an either/or decision. You can improve your health by eating more plant-based foods.”
— Lindsay Malone, registered dietitian
Cardiovascular diseases are the foremost cause of death across the globe, accounting for nearly
Read the full article here