Study: Healthy Plant-Based Diets May Reduce Risk of Blood Clots in the Legs or Lungs

From vegconomist.com

A study published in the journal JACC: Advances has found that consuming a healthy plant-based diet could reduce the risk of dangerous blood clots in the legs or lungs, known as venous thromboembolism (VTE).

183,510 participants free of VTE were recruited and assessed to see how closely they adhered to a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. Their genetic risk of VTE was also tested.

Participants were then followed for 13 years and periodically answered questions about their diets. Those who most closely followed a healthy plant-based eating pattern were found to have a 14% lower risk of VTE. Participants with a high genetic risk of VTE were 47% more likely to develop the condition than others in the study; however, those who ate a predominantly plant-based diet still had a lower risk than those who did not.

The researchers conclude that adherence to a healthy plant-based diet could reduce the risk of VTE independent of genetic background, lifestyle, sociodemographic features, and multiple morbidities.

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Plant-based diets and cardiometabolic health

Significant research supports the link between healthy plant-based diets and improved cardiometabolic health; a recent meta-analysis found that replacing meat with plant-based proteins could lead to a 12% drop in LDL cholesterol and a 1% drop in body weight.

In December, a Harvard study found that consuming more plant-based than animal-based proteins is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and coronary heart disease (CHD). Participants with the highest plant-to-animal protein ratio had a 19% lower risk of CVD and a 27% lower risk of CHD.

Furthermore, a 2023 Stanford Medicine study indicated that vegan diets could improve cardiovascular health within just two months; participants saw their LDL-C cholesterol and fasting insulin levels fall significantly compared to those eating a balanced omnivorous diet, and also lost more weight.

“This suggests that anyone who chooses a vegan diet can improve their long-term health in two months, with the most change seen in the first month,” said senior author Christopher Gardner. “Based on these results and thinking about longevity, most of us would benefit from going to a more plant-based diet.”

https://vegconomist.com/health/healthy-plant-based-diets-may-reduce-risk-blood-clots-legs-lungs/