In recent years, highly-processed plant-based meat alternatives have become popular. In 2023, the plant-based market was worth $8.1 billion, according to the Good Food Institute.
Eating a plant-based diet is associated with a lower risk of heart problems and a longer life.
But plant-based foods that are ultra-processed, like vegan nuggets or potato chips, can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and early death, according to a new study.
There is a simple swap, however, that could boost your health.
People who switch out plant-based processed foods with whole foods, such as fruits and vegetables, have been found to have lower blood pressure and a reduced risk of diabetes. They may also age slower.
In recent years, highly-processed plant-based meat alternatives have become popular. In 2023, the plant-based market was worth $8.1 billion, according to the Good Food Institute.
Ultra-processed foods (UFPs) make up around 73% of the US food supply, according to a 2024 research paper by Northeastern University’s Network Science Institute, which hasn’t been peer-reviewed.
Eating a diet high in UPFs has been linked to health conditions, including cancer, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.
To understand the impact that eating plant-based products and UPFs had on cardiovascular risk, researchers analyzed data from a UK Biobank longitudinal study.
They looked at data from more than 118,000 people between the ages of 40 and 69 who answered questions about their diet. This information was later linked to hospital and mortality records to monitor cardiovascular risk factors.
The study, published Monday in The Lancet Regional Health Europe, found that plant-based UPF consumption was associated with a 5% increased risk of cardiovascular disease and a 12% higher risk of early death.
However, replacing plant-based UPFs with non-UPF plant-based foods was associated with a 7% lower risk of cardiovascular disease and 15% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, the study said.
In light of their findings, the authors recommended that dietary guidelines should emphasize not only limiting meat and animal products, but also the need to avoid UPFs in general.
