Macro partitioning
Adherence to a healthful plant-based diet (high intake of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes) is associated with a significantly lower risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality, whereas adherence to an unhealthful plant-based diet (high intake of refined grains, sugar-sweetened beverages, sweets) is associated with a significantly higher risk of these outcomes.
To lower your risk of dying from heart disease or other causes, prioritize whole plant foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and legumes. Avoid relying on refined plant foods like white rice, sugary drinks, and sweets, as these are linked to higher mortality risk. You do not need to eliminate animal products to gain benefits, but the quality of your plant food intake is the critical factor.
Adherence to an overall PDI and hPDI was associated with a lower risk of all-cause and CVD mortality, while uPDI was associated with a higher risk.
Why this rating
Large prospective cohort (n=44,291) with long follow-up (median 8.3 years) and linkage to national mortality records, though observational design limits causal inference.
Source
Association of plant-based diet indices with all-cause and cause-specific mortality among Korean adults in the KNHANES
Heejin Lee et al. · Scientific Reports · 2025
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