Plant-Based Diet Might Boost Heart Attack Risk by 65%
Swapping animal products for plant-based alternatives doesn't guarantee heart health benefits, according to a recent study. While plant-based foods can reduce cardiovascular risk due to their nutritional profile, not all of them are created equal. In fact, the study finds that a high-unhealthy plant-based diet can lead to elevated heart attack biomarkers.
The researchers analyzed data from 7,708 participants in the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Using the USDA's MyPyramid Equivalents 2.0 database, they sorted each reported food into three categories: healthy plant-based foods, unhealthy plant-based foods, and animal-based foods.
Adherence to a healthy plant-based diet was associated with a 49% lower likelihood of having elevated levels of cardiac troponin I, a key heart attack biomarker. On the contrary, people following an unhealthy plant-based diet had a 65% greater chance of elevated levels of cardiac troponin I.
The study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Cardiology, suggests that one needs to carefully consider the types of plant-based foods they are consuming. Processed plant-based meat substitutes, for instance, often contain high amounts of sodium, saturated fats, and additives. These can be as detrimental to heart health as their animal-based counterparts.
Expert dietitians emphasize that the rules that apply to healthy eating in general also apply to plant-based foods. A balanced, heart-healthy plant-based diet should prioritize low-sodium, minimally processed foods rich in proteins, fiber, and phytonutrients. Whole food sources such as beans, legumes, tofu, and tempeh are good choices to replace animal proteins.
When it comes to heart health, it's not just about what you eat, but also how processed the food is. Processed foods, whether plant- or animal-based, tend to be worse for heart health than whole or minimally processed foods. Processing may involve inflammation-triggering additives and gut-disrupting gums, as well as the removal of beneficial components found in natural foods.
To maintain heart health on a plant-based diet, it's important to avoid certain foods that can increase cardiovascular risk, such as unhealthy "junk food" plant-based options, trans fats, and heavily processed meat substitutes. Instead, focus on whole, minimally processed plant-based foods rich in nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and healthy fats. These provide the heart-healthy nutrients and bioactive compounds needed for optimal cardiovascular health.
- While plant-based foods may reduce cardiovascular risk due to their nutritional profile, it's crucial to remember that not all plant-based foods are healthy.
- The study finds that a high-unhealthy plant-based diet can lead to elevated heart attack biomarkers, such as cardiac troponin I.
- Adherence to a healthy plant-based diet, on the other hand, is associated with a lower likelihood of having elevated cardiac troponin I levels.
- Processed plant-based meat substitutes can contain high amounts of sodium, saturated fats, and additives, which can be as detrimental to heart health as their animal-based counterparts.
- To maintain heart health on a plant-based diet, one should avoid certain foods that increase cardiovascular risk, such as unhealthy plant-based options, trans fats, and heavily processed meat substitutes.
- A balanced, heart-healthy plant-based diet should prioritize low-sodium, minimally processed foods rich in proteins, fiber, and phytonutrients, such as beans, legumes, tofu, and tempeh.
- Research in the field of health-and-wellness and nutritional science indicates that it's not just about what you eat, but also how processed the food is, with processed foods being generally worse for cardiovascular health than whole or minimally processed foods.
