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Study: Plant-based ultra-processed foods linked to heart disease, death

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For a long time, health experts have said that eating a plant-based diet is good for your health, but it turns out that is not always the case. A new study backed by the World Cancer Research Fund found not all plant-based diets are created equal, and ultra-processed plant-based foods — like popular vegan meat and dairy replacements — could be putting your life at risk. 

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Scientists found opting for plant-derived foods that are ultra-processed increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. That means if someone thinks they are doing their heart a favor by choosing a veggie burger instead of beef, they might want to think again.

Researchers studied more than 118,000 individuals’ diets and found those who regularly go for plant-based but ultra-processed food are 15% more likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke than those who do not choose the ultra-processed choices. That is because they are still packed with fat, salt and sugar.

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While ultra-processed junk foods have long been linked to health concerns, the study’s authors said it is the first of its kind to link plant-based ultra-processed foods to increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Researchers did find eating just 10% more unprocessed vegetarian foods, like fresh fruits and vegetables, lowered the risk of heart disease by 8%. They also found those who ate the fewest ultra-processed foods had a 13% lower risk of dying of any cardiovascular diseases.

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[KARAH RUCKER]

WE’VE ALL HEARD EATING A PLANT-BASED DIET IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH… BUT IT TURNS OUT – THAT’S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE. 

A NEW STUDY BACKED BY THE WORLD CANCER RESEARCH FUND FOUND NOT ALL PLANT-BASED DIETS ARE CREATED EQUAL… AND ULTRA-PROCESSED PLANT-BASED FOODS – LIKE POPULAR VEGAN MEAT AND DAIRY REPLACEMENTS – COULD BE PUTTING YOUR LIFE AT RISK. 

SCIENTISTS FOUND OPTING FOR PLANT-DERIVED FOODS THAT ARE ULTRA-PROCESSED INCREASES THE RISK OF HEART ATTACKS AND STROKES. 

THAT MEANS IF YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING YOUR HEART A FAVOR BY CHOOSING A VEGGIE BURGER INSTEAD OF BEEF… YOU MIGHT WANT TO THINK AGAIN. 

RESEARCHERS STUDIED MORE THAN 118-THOUSAND PEOPLES’ DIETS – AND FOUND THOSE WHO REGULARLY GO FOR PLANT-BASED BUT ULTRA-PROCESSED FOOD ARE 15 PERCENT MORE LIKELY TO SUFFER A HEART ATTACK OR STROKE THAN THOSE CHOOSE DON’T CHOOSE THE ULTRA-PROCESSED CHOICES. 

THAT’S BECAUSE THEY ARE STILL PACKED WITH FAT, SALT, AND SUGAR. 

WHILE ULTRA-PROCESSED JUNK FOODS HAVE LONG BEEN LINKED TO HEALTH CONCERNS… THE STUDY’S AUTHORS SAY IT’S THE FIRST OF ITS KIND TO LINK *PLANT-BASED* ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS TO INCREASED RISK OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES. 

RESEARCHERS DID FIND EATING JUST 10 PERCENT MORE UNPROCESSED VEGETARIAN FOODS – LIKE FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES – LOWERED THE RISK OF HEART DISEASE BY 8 PERCENT. 

THEY ALSO FOUND THOSE WHO ATE THE FEWEST ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS HAD A 13 PERCENT LOWER RISK OF DYING OF ANY CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES.