Research
Macro partitioning
Adopting a healthy plant-based diet index (hPBDI) substantially lowers coronary heart disease risk, whereas an unhealthy plant-based diet index (uPBDI) is associated with higher risk.
If you choose a plant-based diet, prioritize whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes. Avoid refined grains, sugary drinks, and processed sweets, as these can increase heart disease risk even in a plant-based context.
GoodQualifiesHIGH confidence
This analysis of 93 329 women in the Nurses’ Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study showed that diets that scored high in the hPBDI category substantially lowered CHD risk, whereas, foods in the uPBDI, which emphasized less healthy plant foods were associated with higher CHD risk.
Why this rating
Based on a large cohort study (Nurses’ Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study).
Source
Lifestyle Strategies for Risk Factor Reduction, Prevention, and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease
James M. Rippe · American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine · 2018
DOI 10.1177/1559827618812395
narrative_reviewCited 310×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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