New research from McGill University (Canada), in collaboration with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (UK), has provided convincing evidence that replacing part of animal meat with plant protein foods can increase longevity.
The study drew on data from the National Nutrition Survey to analyze Canadians' dietary profiles.
Reducing the amount of pork, beef and processed meat in the diet and replacing it with vegetable protein helps prolong life.
The study authors investigated the impact of partially replacing (25% and 50%) red and processed meat or dairy with plant-based protein foods such as nuts, legumes, tofu and soy milk, on nutrition, health and climate impacts.
The results found that: While a meat-heavy diet is known to increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers, replacing half of the red and processed meat in the diet with plant protein foods, could help increase longevity, by reducing the risk of chronic disease, according to the medical news site Medical Express.
In particular, men gain more benefits than women.
Additionally, red meat, processed meat, and dairy are major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. This study found that replacing half of red and processed meat with plant protein foods could reduce diet-related carbon emissions by a whopping 25%.
Foods rich in plant protein include nuts, beans, tofu and soy milk.
Study author Dr Olivia Auclair explains: We show that by replacing some of the red and processed meat with plant-based protein foods, there are simultaneous benefits to health and the planet without necessarily changing the entire diet.
I hope our findings help consumers make healthier and more environmentally sustainable food choices,” said study leader Sergio Burgos, PhD, associate professor and scientist at the McGill University Health Centre Research Institute.
Increasing consumption of plant-based foods along with reducing red and processed meat would have significant health and environmental benefits, the authors write, according to Medical Express.
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