Some vegan foods linked to increase in risk of heart attack and strokes

11 June 2024 , 11:41

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A young woman drinks green smoothies and eats a burger in a vegan fast food restaurant [file image]

Switching to a plant-based diet is generally considered a healthy move - but new research suggests that some vegetarian and vegan foods could increase the risk of stroke or heart attack by 15 per cent.

The study analysed the diets of over 118,000 people in the UK and found that ultra-processed plant-based alternatives could be more harmful than unprocessed meat and animal products. Vegan and vegetarian burgers, sausages and other meat substitutes can be high in fats, sugar, salt, preservatives and other chemicals, and often undergo extensive factory processing, according to MailOnline.

Even though cakes, biscuits, sweets and soft drinks can be plant-based, it doesn't necessarily mean they're healthier, the study suggests. The research, published in Lancet Regional Health - Europe and involving experts from Imperial College London, revealed that those who consumed a lot of ultra-processed plant-based foods had a seven per cent higher risk of blocked heart vessels and a 15 per cent increased risk of death compared to vegetarians who ate less processed food, reports Bristol Live.

On the flip side, eating more fresh fruit and vegetables was associated with an eight per cent reduction in the risk of heart disease. Vegetarians who consumed the least ultra-processed foods had a 20% lower risk of heart disease. Dr Eszter Vamos, who co-authored the research, said: "Fresh plant-based foods such as fruits and vegetables, wholegrains and legumes are known to have important health and environmental benefits. While ultra-processed foods are often marketed as healthy foods, this large study suggests that plant-based ultra-processed foods do not seem to have protective health effects and are linked to poor health outcomes.",

British Dietetic Association spokesperson Dr Duane Mellor pointed out a potential flaw in the study, noting that it lumped all ultra-processed plant-based foods into one category, which includes meat substitutes as well as items like plant-based crisps, cakes, sweets, soft drinks, and biscuits.

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Dr Mellor added: "It is important to emphasise that just because a food or drink is technically plant based, it does not mean it is healthy."

Rom Preston-Ellis