Good plants = less heart trouble, bad plants = more risk if you're overweight
Association between plant-based diets and the risk of coronary heart disease predicted using the Framingham Risk Score in Korean men: data from the HEXA cohort study
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Unhealthy plant-based diets (uPDI) didn’t raise heart risk in lean men—only in those with obesity.
Most people assume processed carbs are universally bad. This shows their danger is conditional—context matters more than the food itself.
Practical Takeaways
Swap white rice and sugary drinks for brown rice, beans, and fruit—especially if you carry weight around your middle.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Unhealthy plant-based diets (uPDI) didn’t raise heart risk in lean men—only in those with obesity.
Most people assume processed carbs are universally bad. This shows their danger is conditional—context matters more than the food itself.
Practical Takeaways
Swap white rice and sugary drinks for brown rice, beans, and fruit—especially if you carry weight around your middle.
Publication
Journal
Epidemiology and Health
Year
2024
Authors
Khongorzul Ganbat, Bayarmaa Nasan Ulzii, Sangah Shin
Related Content
Claims (6)
Eating more whole plants like vegetables, fruits, and whole grains — and less meat and sugary refined foods — matters more for preventing heart disease than just how much fat or carbs you eat.
Men in Korea who eat more healthy plant-based foods like vegetables, fruits, and whole grains have a 20% lower chance of having a heart attack or heart disease in the next 10 years, compared to those who eat less of these foods.
People in Korea who eat more healthy plant-based foods like vegetables, beans, and whole grains tend to have lower bad cholesterol levels, which might be why they’re less likely to have heart problems.
If Korean men over 40 who are already active eat more plant-based foods and less animal-based ones, their chance of having a heart problem in the next 10 years is predicted to be 26% lower.
In Korean men over 40 who are overweight or have a big waistline, eating more unhealthy plant-based foods like sugary snacks and refined carbs is linked to a much higher chance of having a heart attack or heart disease in the next 10 years.