One in five premature deaths could be prevented by better eating habits, according to research that assessed the impact of plant-based diets.
The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) said a study, conducted in Spain, had analysed the benefits of the Planetary Health Diet (PHD) and the Mediterranean Diet.
Both diets were found to reduce premature deaths and have a low environmental impact.
“Diet contributes significantly to cardiovascular disease mortality, with estimates indicating that across the European region, one in every five premature deaths could be prevented by an optimised diet,” the ESC said.
“This study highlights the advantages of the plant-based diets, with wider adoption of healthy and sustainable diets needed to prevent excess premature deaths worldwide.”
The Planetary Health Diet (PHD) was developed in 2019 to optimise global dietary quality and minimise the environmental impacts of food production.
It is based on high consumption of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and unsaturated oils; moderate intake of dairy, starchy vegetables, poultry and fish and low consumption of saturated fats, red meat and added sugars.
Similarly, the Mediterranean Diet is based on fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole grains and nuts, with olive oil as the main dietary fat, white or lean meats and moderate consumption of dairy products, fish and eggs.
The Spanish study used data from 11,488 participants aged from 18 to 96. Their death rates were assessed against their diets around 14 years after the first data was collected.
“Higher adherence to the PHD and Mediterranean Diet was…associated with lower all-cause mortality,” the study report said.
“Participants in the top third for adherence to the PHD had a 22 percent lower chance of dying than those in the lowest third.
“For the Mediterranean Diet, participants in the top third for adherence had a 21 percent lower chance of dying than those in the lowest third.”
The full report is on the European Society of Cardiology website.
