How are plant-based diet patterns beneficial in lowering atherogenic blood lipids?
Unhealthy diet and lifestyle are modifiable behavioural risk factors in the development of cardio-vascular disease (CVD). Adopting a healthy diet and lifestyle should always form the cornerstone when seeking to lower total and esp. LDL-cholesterol concentrations and CVD risk (1).
Based on growing evidence, dietary patterns that are beneficial for cardiovascular (CV) health include a wide variety of predominantly plant-based foods or food groups such as a high consumption of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes (pulses), nuts and seeds, a moderate consumption of fish, poultry and eggs, and limited consumption of (red and processed) meat, sweets, and sugar-sweetened beverages. The protective effect of predominantly plant-based dietary patterns, such as the Mediterranean, the Nordic or the DASH and Portfolio diets on CVD risk and related risk factors, like LDL-cholesterol has been recognized by numerous dietary and clinical practice guidelines including the American Heart Association (AHA) and EAS/ESC guidelines (1-3).