Closer to Plant based
Plant-based Diets and Heart Disease
According to the Physicians Committee on Responsible Medicine, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and around the world. Eating habits and other lifestyle factors play a key role in determining the risk of heart disease.Studies have shown that a low-fat, plant-based diet, combined with regular exercise and a healthy overall lifestyle, can prevent, delay, and even reverse heart disease and other cardiovascular events.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and around the world. Eating habits and other lifestyle factors play a key role in determining the risk of heart disease. Studies have shown that a low-fat, plant-based diet, combined with regular exercise and a healthy overall lifestyle, can prevent, delay, and even reverse heart disease and other cardiovascular events.
Plant-based diets benefit heart health because they contain no dietary cholesterol, very little saturated fat, and abundant fiber. Meat, cheese, and eggs, on the other hand, are packed with cholesterol and saturated fat, which cause plaque buildup in the arteries, eventually leading to heart disease.
A plant-based diet can also help improve several risk factors for heart disease:
- High Blood Pressure: A plant-based diet, rich in potassium, improves blood pressure.
- High Cholesterol: Aim for high-fiber foods, which can help lower cholesterol.
- Atherosclerosis: Diets rich in saturated fat and cholesterol cause plaque buildup in the arteries, restricting blood flow.
- Inflammation: Plant-based diets help reduce inflammation, which can lead to heart disease and other conditions.
Plant-based diet cuts heart failure risk by over 40 percent
New research finds that sticking to a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and fish can slash heart failure risk by 41 percent. By contrast, a diet rich in fats, fried foods, processed meat, and sugary drinks can raise the risk of this condition.
HeartSmarts Part II: Closer to Plant-Based
The purpose of HeartSmarts II Closer to Plant-Based is to increase awareness and understanding of the importance of a whole foods plant based diet in improving overall health outcomes.
Through an in-depth curriculum, participants learn about the connection between diet and disease. Specifically, classes focus on:
- Overview of whole foods plant based nutrition
- Meat
- Dairy
- Processed foods
- Sugar
- Inflammation
- Healthy plant-based alternatives
- Preparation of healthy whole food plant based meals
To sign up for HeartSmarts Part II, please complete the form at the link below.
Research on the Benefits of plant based nutrition
Healthy plant-based diet tied to lowered heart risk according to new study
People who eat a healthy, mostly plant-based diet may be less likely to develop heart disease and to die from it than those who consume meat and refined carbohydrates, a U.S. study suggests.
Vegan Diets Decrease Heart Attack Risk Among African Americans
Vegan diets lower the risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) among African Americans, according to preliminary research recently published in Circulation.
Plant-Based Diets Are Associated With Lower Adiposity Levels Among Hispanic/Latino Adults
Plant-based eating as practiced by US-based Hispanic/Latino Seventh-day Adventists is associated with BMI in the recommended range.
Vegetarian diet reduces heart disease death risk by 40 percent
A recent review, now published in the journal Progress in Cardiovascular Disease, focused on the benefits of a plant-based diet on cardiovascular health, specifically.