The replacement of foods of animal origin, such as processed meat, red meat and eggs, with plant-based foods such as nuts, legumes and whole grains is linked to a reduced risk of death and health problems such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

This is what research finds, published in the journal BMC Medicine. The researchers summarized findings from 37 publications, including 24 prospective cohort studies.

They found that when 50 grams of processed meat was replaced on a daily basis with 28-50 grams of nuts, the overall incidence of cardiovascular disease was reduced by 27%. Replacing processed meat with 50 grams of legumes per day was associated with a 23% reduction in cardiovascular disease, while replacing one egg per day with 25-28 grams of nuts was associated with a 17% reduction in cardiovascular disease risk. On the other hand, there was no clear evidence that replacing poultry, fish or seafood with nuts or legumes reduces this risk.

In addition, replacing 50 grams of processed meat per day with 10-28 grams of nuts was associated with a 22% reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes. Replacing one egg per day with 30 grams of whole grains or with ten grams of nuts was associated with a reduction of 21% and 18%, respectively. Finally, replacing 50 grams of processed meat per day with 28-50 grams of nuts was associated with a 21% reduction in total mortality.

The researchers point out, however, that further research is needed to confirm these findings, and that future research could further investigate the relationship between meat and dairy products and health.

See here the link to the scientific publication