A healthy vegan diet reduces heart disease risk

Vegans have the edge when it comes to heart disease. Research shows that those who shun all animal products are likely to have lower blood cholesterol levels and less hypertension. Vegan diets are also higher in phytochemicals and nutrients that may reduce heart disease risk.

A recent paper from Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China looked at several factors in plant-based diets that affect heart disease. And while most media sources got the conclusions wrong, the paper stated clearly that vegans have a “generally low risk of cardiovascular disease.”

But there is room for improvement in any diet, and the analysis, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, suggested that vegans who have low intakes of vitamin B12 and possibly omega-3 fats could lose out on the benefits of healthful plant-based eating. Inadequate B12 is associated with elevated levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that is linked to increased heart disease. But that’s an issue only for vegans who fail to supplement with vitamin B12. Those who consume recommended amounts of B12 have healthy levels of homocysteine.

The omega-3 fats DHA and EPA—found primarily in fatty fish—are a more complex story since it’s not clear that these fats have any benefit for those who are already eating a heart-healthy diet. However, fish get their DHA and EPA from algae, and vegans can do the same by using algae-derived supplements.

Finally, some vegans might have lower levels of the good HDL-cholesterol that protects against heart disease. Whether or not this matter for vegans is an ongoing debate, but including morehealthful plant fats in diets is one way to maintain healthy HDL levels.

Dropping meat, eggs and dairy from your diet can be a powerful step toward protecting yourself from heart disease. The following suggestions can ensure that your vegan diet is as heart-healthy as possible:

• Get adequate vitamin B12 by taking a chewable or sub-lingual (one that dissolves beneath the tongue) supplement providing 25 to 100 micrograms daily or 1,000 micrograms twice a week. Don’t depend on pills that are swallowed whole to meet B12 needs since they may not dissolve well enough.
• Take an algae-derived supplement providing 200 to 300 milligrams of DHA (or DHA and EPA combined) several times a week.
• Include 1 to 2 servings of heart-healthy nuts in your diet every day.
• Base your menus on mostly whole foods, but, if you enjoy them, it’s fine to eat convenient products like veggie burgers or seasoned tofu. Their protein may help reduce blood cholesterol levels.
• Don’t get too skimpy with fat. Small amounts of healthful fats like olive oil, avocado, and nuts improve cholesterol levels and have other benefits, too.
• Eat plent of foods that are rich in potassium like orange and sodium-reduced tomato juice, reduced-sodium tomato sauce, spinach, swiss chard, sweet potatoes, legumes, and bananas. Diets high in potassium help lower blood pressure and protect against heart disease.