1254: Women Face Higher Heart Disease Risks, and a Plant-Based Diet May Help, Studies Find by...

Research Briefing: Plant-Based Diets and Women’s Heart Health

Research presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 2025 scientific session suggests that lifestyle factors may affect women’s heart health more strongly than men’s. The findings also suggest that a healthy plant-based diet may help reduce health risks.

Study Findings

One study analyzed nearly 78,000 people with cardiometabolic disorders in the UK, US, and China. Greater adherence to a healthy plant-based diet was associated with a 17–24% lower risk of death from any cause, cardiovascular disease, or cancer. Higher consumption of refined grains, sugary drinks, and animal products was associated with a 28–36% higher risk of death.

A separate study of more than 175,000 Canadian adults found that women with poor health indicators had nearly five times the heart-disease risk of women with ideal indicators. For men, the increase was about two and a half times.

Wellness Strategies Highlighted

• Emphasize vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds.
• Choose nutritious plant foods and reduce refined grains, sugary drinks, and animal products.
• Use plant foods’ potassium and lower sodium content to support healthy blood pressure.
• Get fiber and healthy fats from whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds to support cholesterol levels.
• Choose whole grains and legumes for steadier blood sugar, especially for people with diabetes.
• Eat a variety of plant foods rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals, which may help reduce inflammation.

Diet may be a useful tool alongside other prevention approaches, particularly for women at elevated cardiovascular risk. The study findings described are associations.

Presenters and Sources

• Host: Marian Eriksson (also rendered as “Mary Ann Erickson” in the subtitles)
• Article source: VegNews editorial team, VegNews.com
• Researchers quoted: Zangling Chen, MD, PhD; Manish Sood, MD, PhD
• Research venue: American College of Cardiology’s ACC 25 annual scientific session