Plant-Based Diet Protects Brain and Heart

We've known for a while that choosing a plant-based diet is strong evidence that you are smart! Now we have evidence that's literally true (sort of). A new study from the Boston University School of Medicine finds that eating more plant-based food such as berries and green leafy vegetables while limiting consumption of foods high in saturated fat and animal products can help you slow down heart failure and lower your risk of cognitive decline and dementia. 

“Our findings highlight the importance of adherence to the MIND diet for a better cardiovascular health and further reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease in the community,” explained corresponding author Vanessa Xanthakis, PhD, assistant professor of medicine and biostatistics at BUSM.

The researchers note that heart failure affects over 6.5 million adults in the U.S. In addition to its detrimental effects on several organ systems, the symptoms of heart failure are associated with higher risk of cognitive decline and dementia. 

So, while we've known that eating a plant-based diet is good for your health, and this study is therefore no surprise, it is cool to see further evidence of the specific health benefits of a plant-based diet. In addition to diet, we believe a regular exercise regimen is key to staying healthy. But we'll talk more about that in another post!