Reduce risk of early death by eating more plants? Evidence continues to mount for plant-based diets

[jamiepopeauthor]

Reduce risk of early death by eating more plants? The evidence continues to mount in support of a plant-forward eating style for health and longevity. In another study released this month in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers asked the question “Is there an association between Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommended dietary patterns with total and cause-specific mortality?” Results indicated that greater adherence to any of four plant-forward eating plans reduced risk of early death (reported to be by as much as 20%) and death from several chronic diseases. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36622660/ As one of the largest and longest running cohort studies, the research included over 75,000 women and over 44,000 men with data collected over an almost 40-year span. The four eating plans included the Mediterranean diet (no surprise!) along with the DASH diet (see my previous post), semi-vegetarian (think plant-based Flexitarian), and a healthful plant-based diet, that minimizes animal foods and alcohol. All four plans focused on more whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans, and legumes – and all align with the DGA. Researchers said that the study suggests that there is no one “diet” and that people can create their own eating plans based on food preferences, culture, and health concerns. https://www.cnn.com/.../live-longer-diet-wellness/index.html Read more about diet's role in longevity and disease risk reduction in Spotlight G Nutrition and the Aging Adult in Nutrition for a Changing World!