The Secret to a Longer Life: More Nuts, Less Meat?

Written by Sadi Mosko

According to a recent study from Tufts University, excessive or insufficient intakes of certain foods cause 45% of deaths related to cardio-metabolic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and type-2 diabetes. What are these foods? The study lists ten of them with excessive consumption of meat in third place following high intakes of sodium and low intakes of nuts and seeds. Red and processed meats were linked to 8% of cardiometabolic deaths, overtaking sugar, which was linked to only 7.4%.

Avoiding consumption of meat may seem difficult, especially to the bacon lovers out there. However, as NPR correspondent Allison Aubrey asserts, reducing consumption of meat only leaves room for greater consumption of the foods that researchers found to be lacking from the average person’s diet, like nuts and seeds.

Nuts and seeds are a source of many important nutrients like unsaturated fats, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and vitamin E. These nutrients can help lower cholesterol, stop plaque buildup in arteries, and improve the heart’s overall health. What’s more? They are a delicious and plant-based source of protein that can lead to a longer and healthier life.

Brian KatemanMarch 29, 2017reducetarian, less meat, nuts, study, tufts university, health