How a plant-based diet helps avoid cancer and diabetes

This conclusion was reached by international researchers on the basis of analysing data from more than 400,000 people from six European countries. This is reported by Phys.org with reference to the study published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity.

The study was conducted by the University of Vienna in collaboration with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, France) and Gyeonggi University (South Korea). Researchers studied the diet of people aged 37 to 70 and its association with the development of multimorbidity - the simultaneous presence of two or more chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

What are the benefits of a plant-based diet?

The analysis showed that participants with a high level of adherence to a plant-based diet had a 32% lower risk of developing multimorbidity, compared to those who opted for a more traditional mixed diet. It was not necessary to completely eliminate animal products - just increase the proportion of plant-based foods.

"Completely giving up animal foods is not necessary. Even a partial transition to a plant-based diet already has a positive effect," explained the head of the study, nutritionist Reinalda Cordova.

Age is not an obstacle

The effect of a plant-based diet was significant in people under 60 years of age as well as in the elderly. In both age groups, there was a reduction in the risks of cancer and cardiometabolic diseases.

"Our work confirms: a healthy plant-based diet reduces the risk of several diseases at once, not just one diagnosis," Cordova emphasised.

The key foods in such a diet are:

• fruits

• vegetables

• legumes

• whole-grain products

• plant-based alternatives to meat (e.g. vegan meatballs)

Not only health, but also ecology

In addition to the health benefits, a plant-based diet is also good for the environment. "Reducing the proportion of animal food in the diet contributes to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and reduces the burden on agriculture," added study co-author Professor Karl-Heinz Wagner of the University of Vienna.

The authors emphasise: public policy on nutrition and disease prevention should take into account the benefits of plant-based diets. Even a moderate reduction in meat consumption and an increase in the proportion of plant-based foods could play a key role in combating the epidemic of chronic diseases.