This is a shocking health revelation.
A large-scale study with over 400,000 participants tracked for up to 24 years has highlighted the health benefits of plant-based fats over animal-based fats. Conducted by Dr. Demetrius Albanes and his team at the U.S. National Cancer Institute, the research found that plant-derived fats were associated with a significantly lower risk of mortality, including deaths from heart disease.
The study analyzed data from the National Institutes of Health AARP Diet and Health Study, which covered a period from 1995 to 2019. The cohort, consisting of 407,531 adults with an average starting age of 61, was divided into five groups based on their consumption of plant-based fats. These groups ranged from those with the highest intake to those with the lowest.
The results revealed that participants with the highest consumption of plant-based fats had a 9% lower risk of death from any cause and a 14% lower risk of death from heart disease compared to those with the lowest intake. Specifically, higher consumption of fats from vegetable oils was linked to a 12% reduction in overall mortality and a 15% reduction in cardiovascular deaths. Fats from grains also showed a positive correlation with lower risks of both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.
In contrast, those with the highest intake of animal-based fats experienced higher mortality risks. The study found that individuals consuming the most animal fats had a 16% increased risk of death from any cause and a 14% increased risk of death from heart disease compared to those with the lowest intake. This increased risk was evident for fats from sources like meat, dairy, and eggs.
The findings suggest that replacing animal fats with plant-based fats could significantly reduce mortality risks. Specifically, substituting just 5% of daily energy intake from animal fats with plant fats—especially from sources like grains or vegetable oils—was associated with a notable decrease in overall and cardiovascular mortality.
Discussion about this post