According to new studies, a vegan diet may help lower heart-damaging inflammation more than the diet recommended by the American Heart Association (AHA).
The study consisted of 100 people with heart disease, which was defined as having at least one narrowed heart artery. About half of the participants were randomly selected to follow a vegan diet that prohibits consuming meat, poultry, dairy, eggs, seafood, and fish. The other half followed the AHA diet, which encourages lean poultry, fish, and low-fat dairy products, along with plant-based foods. All of the participants received cookbooks, groceries, and sample menus. They were also expected to provided a 24-hour diet recall record twice a week on random days.
C-reactive protein (CRP) is a substance produced by the liver in response to inflammation. High CRP levels can indicate that there’s inflammation in the arteries of the heart, which can mean a higher risk of heart attack. After eight weeks, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were 32% lower among people in the vegan diet group when compared with the AHA diet group. The study, in the Dec. 4, 2018, Journal of the American Heart Association, lends further support for the benefits of plant-focused diets.
