{"id":14879,"date":"2018-10-03T10:00:59","date_gmt":"2018-10-03T17:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foodrevolution.org\/?p=14879"},"modified":"2023-05-18T16:44:59","modified_gmt":"2023-05-18T23:44:59","slug":"plant-protein-vs-animal-protein-heart-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foodrevolution.org\/blog\/plant-protein-vs-animal-protein-heart-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Not All Protein Is Equal: A Doctor Explains Why You Should Choose Plant Protein Over Animal Protein for Better Heart Health and Longevity"},"content":{"rendered":"

A plant-powered doctor clarifies why all protein is not equal and offers an explanation of the benefits of plant protein vs animal protein for cardiovascular disease and longevity. Learn which types of plant protein are the most beneficial and tips for adding healthy protein sources to your diet<\/i>.<\/p>\n

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By Joel Fuhrman, MD \u2022 A version of this article was originally published on DrFuhrman.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Thanks to popular wisdom, we tend to consider animal protein our dietary MVP \u2013 it\u2019s associated with building muscle, and high-animal protein weight loss diets are still popular. In contrast, plant protein from vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds is considered a \u201csecond string\u201d source.<\/p>\n

But as usual, popular wisdom only gets part of the story right. When it comes to protecting your cardiovascular health, it is the source of your protein that matters most.<\/b><\/p>\n

Many studies have demonstrated that plant protein is beneficial \u2013 and animal protein is harmful <\/b>\u2013 regarding outcomes such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and death from all causes.<\/i><\/p>\n

But new data gathered by the Adventist Health Study 2 takes a more nuanced look at exactly which types of plant and animal proteins have the greatest impact on your risk of heart disease.<\/p>\n

Researchers decided to ask which protein-containing foods, in particular, contribute to increasing or decreasing cardiovascular risk. It will come as no surprise to Nutritarians that nuts and seeds emerged as the most beneficial source of this vital nutrient.<\/b><\/p>\n

When it comes to protecting your cardiovascular health, it is the source of your protein that matters most.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

All Protein is Not Equal: Plant Protein vs Animal Protein<\/h2>\n

\"Plant
\nIn this new study<\/a>, researchers focused on the specific sources of the subjects\u2019 protein intake. A total of 81,337 participants were asked about their usual intake of these foods during the previous year, and then they were followed for 6-12 years. Data was analyzed to determine the percentage of total protein that came from these animal and plant sources.<\/p>\n

Of all the plant and animal protein sources analyzed, the risk of cardiovascular deaths steadily climbed with higher consumption of meat protein and steadily fell with greater consumption of protein from nuts and seeds.<\/b><\/p>\n

In the groups with the highest meat intake, the risk was about 60% higher than in the group with the lowest intake. In the group with the highest intake of nuts and seeds, the cardiovascular risk was about 40% lower<\/i> compared to the group with the lowest intake of nuts and seeds.<\/p>\n

These results are consistent with previous research<\/a> that has compared nuts<\/a> to meat as a major calorie source. Plus there have now been numerous studies linking<\/a> higher nut intake to longevity.<\/p>\n

Why Is Meat So Harmful to the Cardiovascular System?<\/h2>\n