Plant-based diet = healthy?

Many believed that simply avoiding meat would constitute a healthy diet.   A recent study from the Harvard School of Public health suggests otherwise.  Plant-based diet must be of “high quality”, in order to reduce coronary heart disease risk.

The study followed more than 200,000 adults for two decades. 

-       A plant-based diet rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes was associated with a substantially lower coronary heart disease risk. 

-       A plant-based diet rich in refined grains, fruit juice, potatoes, sweets and sugar-sweetened beverages was associated with a substantially higher coronary heart disease risk.

Sticking to a healthy diet can sometimes be quite difficult. However, this study further adds to our knowledge of what is healthier and what is less healthy.

For those who consume a large amount of “unhealthful” plant-based foods, this study is a reminder that vegetarian foods may not always be healthy.

For those who want to improve their diets but cannot adopt a vegetarian diet, the good news is that one could probably concentrate on replacing a couple of servings of unhealthy animal foods by a couple of servings of healthy plant-based foods, and still benefit. Nothing too extreme.

Reference:

Satija A, et al. Healthful and unhealthful plant-based diets and the risk of coronary artery disease in US adults. J Am Coll Cardiol 2017; 70:411-422.

Coronary artery disease

Coronary artery disease results from the narrowing of the internal diameter of the coronary arteries. The process is called atherosclerosis. This limits the blood supply to heart, so that oxygen supply cannot match the oxygen demand of the heart. 

When a coronary artery is gradually narrowed and partially blocked, the blood supply to that region of the heart reduces, leading to angina. This usually presents in situations when oxygen demand is high, for example, activities, when our heart rate is fast or when our blood pressure is high.

When a coronary artery suddenly blocks, there is a sudden stoppage of blood supply to parts of the heart.  When there is a lack of blood and hence oxygen to heart muscle, heart muscle dies, leading to myocardial infarction, or commonly known as heart attack.  This usually is due to atherosclerotic plaque rupture, with the formation of a thrombus on the plaque, completely occluding the coronary artery.

Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is the underlying cause of coronary artery disease. This results from the build up of fatty deposits inside the arterial wall over many years. Endothelial inflammation and injury, as well as the plaque buildup with lipids, macrophages, foam cells and collagen play an important part of this process.

Atherosclerotic plaque buildup leads to the narrowing of coronary arteries, reducing coronary blood flow. The blockage of coronary arteries starves heart muscle of blood (and oxygen).

Atherosclerosis occurs in the arteries throughout the body. When atherosclerosis occurs in the head and neck arteries, it can cause stroke. When it occurs in the renal arteries, it may cause kidney failure. When it occurs in the legs, it causes peripheral vascular disease.