“Our study highlights the variable nutritional quality of plant foods,” said author Dr. Matina Kouvari of Harokopio University, Athens, Greece. “This finding was more evident in women. Prior research has shown that women tend to eat more plant-based foods and less animal-based products than men. But our study suggests that this does not guarantee healthier food choices and, in turn, better health status.”
Plant-based diets are usually defined as “vegetarian diets” or “low in meat,” thereby treating all plant-based foods as equal. This new research focused on breaking down the type of plant-based foods consumed to get a better focus on the diets.
The study, titled ATTICA, examined the link between the amount and quality of plant-based foods and heart health over 10 years. A sample of 146 adults living in Athens was selected to participate who were obese but did not have cardiovascular disease or other chronic conditions. All participants had normal blood pressure, blood lipids, and blood sugar. Their diet was assessed using a questionnaire about eating habits in the previous years. The questionnaire listed 156 foods and beverages that are commonly consumed in Greece, which included photographs to help define portion sizes.
It was found that within ten years, nearly half of the obese participants had developed high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high blood lipids. Men who reported consuming more plant-based foods were less likely to have this decline in health. This trend was also observed in women.
Healthy Plant-Based Foods
When researchers analyzed the quality of the plant-based foods, they found that overall, the healthier choices were linked with maintaining normal blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood lipids. The unhealthy plant-based foods were associated with developing high blood pressure, high blood lipids, and high blood sugar. These relationships were found to be stronger in women compared to men.
Healthy plant-based foods are categorized as the least processed foods, such as whole grain, fruits, vegetables, nuts, olives oil, and tea/coffee. Unhealthy plant-based products included juices, sweetened beverages, refined grains, potatoes, and other sweets.
Dr. Kouvari concluded, “Eating less meat is beneficial for heart health, particularly when it is replaced with nutritious plant foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and olive oil.”
This research helps to show that simply following a plant-based diet such as a “vegetarian diet” may not mean it is a healthy diet. As this study was conducted in obese individuals, more research needs to be done to define the outcomes in other weight categories. More analysis is also needed to clarify the number of healthy foods consumed and total health benefits.