Review Shows Plant-Based Diets Benefit Heart Health by Reducing Cholesterol Levels
by
kamal ji
Significant Impact: Vegetarian and Vegan Diets Lower Bad Cholesterol and Promote Heart Health
Plant-based diets have been found to benefit heart health, according to a review of four decades of data. Vegetarian and vegan diets were shown to reduce levels of cholesterol and fats in the blood that contribute to heart attacks. The effect was significant, equivalent to about a third of the impact of cholesterol-lowering drugs. The study involved 30 trials with nearly 2,400 participants worldwide. The results indicated that vegetarian and vegan diets decreased bad cholesterol by 10%, total cholesterol by 7%, and apolipoprotein B (the main protein in bad cholesterol) by 14%. However, not all plant-based diets are healthy, and incorporating a variety of nutrient-dense foods is important.