Just because a diet is plant-based doesn’t mean it’s healthy — eating lots of veggies and nuts is good, but eating lots of sugary drinks and white bread is bad, even if they’re plant-based.

People who eat a lot of unhealthy plant foods like sugary drinks, white bread, and fries have a higher chance of dying early than those who eat fewer of these foods.

People who eat mostly healthy plant foods like whole grains, fruits, and nuts have a lower chance of dying from any cause compared to those who eat fewer of these foods.

Not all plant foods are the same for your heart—eating things like whole grains and nuts may help lower your risk of heart disease, but eating sugary drinks and white bread might raise it.

If you eat a lot of plant-based foods like white bread, soda, fries, and candy, you might be more likely to get heart disease than people who don’t eat as much of these foods—even though they’re still plant-based.

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.