Eating mostly plants with a little meat gives you all the good stuff without the heart risks.

A predominantly plant-based dietary pattern incorporating lean animal proteins provides adequate protein, essential fatty acids, micronutrients, and dietary fiber, while conferring metabolic benefits comparable to low-carbohydrate diets without elevating LDL cholesterol or increasing cardiovascular risk.

Eating mostly whole plant foods like fruits, veggies, beans, and grains is linked to fewer chronic diseases, living longer, and being better for the planet—so it’s a win-win for people and Earth.

People who eat more plants and less meat and dairy tend to have an 8% lower chance of getting heart disease, at least among U.S. health workers.

If you eat a lot of plant-based foods like white bread, soda, fries, and candy instead of healthy plants like vegetables and whole grains, you might be more likely to get heart disease—even if you don’t eat any meat. It’s not just about avoiding animal products; what kind of plants you eat matters.

Eating more plants instead of animal foods might slightly lower your risk of heart disease, but only if those plants are healthy—like vegetables and whole grains—not junk food like soda or fries.