Replacing meat and dairy with plant-based foods has been linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes, according to new research.
Researchers in Germany conducted a study into whether substituting animal-based with plant-based foods is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and all-cause mortality.
The results found that shifting from animal-based foods, such as red and processed meat, eggs, dairy, poultry and butter, to plant-based, such as nuts, legumes, whole grains and olive oil, may significantly reduce cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
In addition, the research showed that the clearest health benefits came from replacing processed meat.
Other findings include:
- The risk of cardiovascular disease is around 25% lower when 50g of processed meat a day is replaced with nuts or legumes
- Replacing one egg a day with 25g of nuts is linked to a 17% lower risk
- The reduction in type 2 diabetes is around 20% when 50g of processed meat daily is swapped for up to 28g of nuts, or when a daily egg was replaced with 30g of whole grains or 10g of nuts
- Switching 50g of processed meat a day for 28-50g of nuts is associated with a 21% lower risk of death.
NHS scheme has ‘huge benefits’
This comes after news that the NHS lifestyle scheme has ‘huge benefits’ for people at risk of diabetes.
A new international study found that those on the NHS programme have had bigger drops in BMI, blood sugar and bad cholesterol.
Launched in 2016, the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme is a nine-month, evidence-based lifestyle change programme. It involves intensive weight loss goals, wearable technologies to monitor exercise levels, apps with access to health coaches, and online peer support groups.
Research has found that this programme has saved thousands of people from ‘the serious consequences’ of type 2 diabetes.
Justine Davies is professor of global health at the University of Birmingham and co-author of the study. She said: ‘Our findings clearly demonstrate the huge benefits of intensive lifestyle counselling for improving the health of patients with pre-diabetes.
‘The positive effects observed in the programme may also extend to other non-communicable diseases such as cancer, which is increasingly thought to be connected to unhealthy lifestyle habits and environments.’
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