The research study showed that eating high-quality plant proteins like nuts, peas, beans, lentils or soy instead of red meat lowered the risk of heart disease by 14%.
SERENA MCNIFF: Another study has confirmed what scientists have long known — eating a lot of red meat may be bad for your heart. On the other hand, opting for plant-based proteins instead of ordering a steak may boost your cardiovascular health. In a new study, researchers followed more than 40,000 men in the United States over a 30-year period. The investigators looked at how red meat consumption influenced their risk of heart disease, the leading cause of death among American men and women.
The findings showed that eating one serving of either processed or unprocessed red meat per day was associated with a 12% higher risk of heart disease, while a daily serving of processed red meat — like sausages, hot dogs or bacon — led to a 15% higher risk. Based on detailed questionnaires filled out by the study participants every four years from 1986 to 2016, study author Laila Al-Shaar and colleagues discovered that eating high-quality plant proteins like nuts, peas, beans, lentils or soy instead of red meat lowered the risk of heart disease by 14%. Whole grains and dairy products also seemed to benefit heart health when eaten in place of red meat.
And replacing red meat with plant proteins had an even stronger benefit for those over 65 years of age, the findings showed. “People at this age are more likely to develop cardiovascular morbidities such as hypertension,” said Al-Shaar. “Therefore, the substitution of plant-based proteins for red meat could possibly improve the cardiometabolic profile of this ‘high-risk’ group and consequently lower their heart disease risk”… There is a growing body of evidence that people who eat lots of red meat, especially processed red meat, are more at risk for numerous health issues, including heart disease and certain types of cancer. SOURCE…
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