Research

Mixed

Adopting a predominantly plant-based dietary pattern improves cardiovascular health markers, including LDL cholesterol, fasting insulin, and body weight, compared to an omnivorous diet.

Start by swapping one animal protein source per day with a plant-based alternative (like lentils or tofu). Focus on adding vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes rather than just cutting out meat. If you experience bloating, increase your fiber intake slowly over weeks rather than all at once. Consider consulting a dietitian to ensure you are getting enough B12 and iron, especially if you are vegan.

GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
The vegan diet participants also showed an approximate 20% drop in fasting insulin and lost an average of 4.2 pounds of body weight more than the omnivore-diet participants, both statistically significant changes... At the end of the study (8-week), LDL-C had dropped to 95.5 mg/dL for vegan-diet participants and 116.1 mg/dL for omnivore-diet participants.
Matthew J. Landry et al. · American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine · 2024

Why this rating

Supported by RCTs (identical twins, SWAP-MEAT) and large observational cohorts (EPIC, Adventist).

Source

Health Benefits of a Plant-Based Dietary Pattern and Implementation in Healthcare and Clinical Practice

Matthew J. Landry et al. · American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine · 2024

narrative_reviewCited 44×
Read the paper

This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →