Vegetables and other plant-derived food are indeed known for their health benefits. These foods are known to be rich in nutrients necessary for maintaining proper bodily functions. Several studies have shown that consumption of food derived from plants can help reduce the risk of heart-related diseases.

The statement is further supported by the results of a recent study conducted by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The researchers found that a diet rich in plant-derived foods could contribute to maintaining a healthy heart and cardiovascular system. Foods such as vegetables, nuts, and seeds are known to have a correlation with the lower risk of death from heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases.

In their study, the researchers analysed the data of 12,168 participants listed in Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) with a period of 1987 to 2016. The data explained the eating patterns of each participant. Participants were divided into three groups based on the type of plant-derived food consumed.

As a result, those who consumed the highest amount of plant-derived foods had a 16% lower risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart failure compared to those who consumed smaller amounts of plant-derived foods. In addition, the researchers also found that a plant-rich diet can reduce the risk of death from any cause by up to 25% and from cardiovascular disease by 32%.

Text by Anggie Triana
Stock photos from Pixabay

Source(s):

• Hyunju, K., Caulfield, L.E, Larsen, V.G., et all (2019). Plant-Based Diets Are Associated With a Lower Risk of Incident Cardiovascular Disease, Cardiovascular Disease Mortality, and All-Cause Mortality in a General Population of Middle-Aged Adults. Journal of the American Heart Association, DOI: doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.119.012865.
• Medical News Today - Plant-based diets may reduce cardiovascular death risk by 32% (2019). https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326003.php, 20 August 2019.