In a new study from Zhejiang University, researchers found a plant-based diet with the better quality might lower death risk in older people.
A plant-based dietary pattern is usually defined as a diet rich in plant-based foods and low level of animal-based foods, and has received accumulating attention for its potential health and environmental benefits.
However, not all plant-based foods are necessarily beneficial to health.
In the study, the team examined the associations of overall plant-based dietary patterns, as well as healthful and unhealthful plant-based dietary patterns, with mortality based on a nationwide cohort of 13,154 older adults in China from 2008 to 2018.
They found that an overall plant-based dietary pattern and a dietary pattern emphasizing more healthy plant-based foods, such as legumes and fresh vegetables, were linked to a lower risk of mortality, while a dietary pattern rich in unhealthful plant-based foods, such as preserved vegetables and sugar, showed a relation to higher mortality risk.
The findings suggest that not only quantity but the quality of plant-based foods should be emphasized in future dietary recommendations for Chinese older adults.
The researchers hope that our research will provide evidence for future dietary recommendations, and they plan to further assess the benefits for health and the environment brought about by gradually adopting a healthful plant-based dietary pattern.
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The study is published in Nature Aging and was conducted by Dr. Yuan Changzheng et al.
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