Here is another massive summary of research (released and compiled as a meta-analysis – a collection of various different studies and research project results), that defines again how powerful plant-based diets are – be they vegetarian, vegan, plant-based or very low-level meat diets. As I have recommended for the last 30 years, the science is now catching up on a near-weekly basis.

The objective of this ‘multiple health outcomes: a systematic review with meta-analysis of observational studies’, according to the authors, was ‘to clarify the association between vegetarian, vegan diets, risk factors for chronic diseases, risk of all-cause mortality, incidence and mortality from cardio-cerebrovascular diseases, total cancer and specific type of cancer (colorectal, breast, prostate and lung), through meta-analysis.’

And they certainly did just that…

The method they used was a comprehensive independent analysis of published Medline, EMBASE, Scopus, The Cochrane Library and Google Scholar research papers. The results were stunning and conclusive over 86 cross-sectional and 10 cohort prospective studies.

This is almost 100 independent studies, showing that plant-based diets extend healthy longevity, protect against disease and save lives.

The authors wrote ‘The overall analysis among cross-sectional studies reported significant reduced levels of body mass index, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and glucose levels in vegetarians versus omnivores. With regard to prospective cohort studies, the analysis showed a significant reduced risk of incidence and/or mortality from ischemic heart disease and incidence of total cancer.’

What is the bottom line?

The conclusion they came to was ‘a significant protective effect of a vegetarian type diet versus the incidence and/or mortality from ischemic heart disease and incidence from total cancer.’

Exact conclusions?

The authors wrote ‘This comprehensive meta-analysis reports a significant protective effect of a vegetarian diet versus the incidence and/or mortality from ischemic heart disease (−25%) and incidence from total cancer (−8%). Vegan diet conferred a significant reduced risk (−15%) of incidence from total cancer’.

This is serious, significant, immediate and game-changing if you think about it.

Eat a plant-based wholefood diet.

That means mostly or all plants; mostly or all wholefoods.

An apple instead of an apple juice.

Brown rice instead of white rice.

Whole whet instead of white flour.

Written by Jason Shon Bennett from jasonshonbennett.com