Good nutrition extends the life of people with heart disease and diabetes

Cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity are serious problems that shorten life expectancy. Along with drug therapy, nutrition remains one of the main factors influencing the development of these diseases. According to a major international analysis presented at the annual conference of the American College of Cardiology (ACC.25), following a healthy plant-based diet can significantly reduce the risk of death from heart disease and cancer.

Specialists analyzed data from 78 thousand people from the UK, USA and China with cardiometabolic disorders. Participants were evaluated by the level of consumption of useful and harmful plant products. A high score was given to those who more often included vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole-grain products in their diet, and a low score was given to those who consumed refined carbohydrates, sweet drinks and large amounts of animal food.

It turned out that adherence to a healthy plant-based diet reduces the likelihood of premature death by 17-24%, while the abuse of processed foods increases this risk by 28-36%. And such patterns are observed regardless of age, gender, level of physical activity and other factors.

Reducing the consumption of unhealthy foods is a simple and affordable method of preventing serious diseases. The authors of the work are confident that the right choice of nutrition can be an effective strategy in the fight against diabetes, obesity and heart disease.

It is worth considering that the participants provided their own nutritional data, and changes in their diet were not monitored. However, the findings confirm the importance of a conscious approach to nutrition and the need to further study the impact of different dietary habits on health.

Replacing unhealthy foods with healthy plant-based food sources can significantly prolong the lives of people with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Consumption of whole grains, vegetables and fruits not only helps to improve health but also reduces the risks of severe complications.