Plant-Based Foods Curb Chronic Disease
A diet rich in flavonoids may protect against two big killers.
Here’s another good reason to embrace the trend of eating more plants: A cohort study in Nature Communications involving 56,048 adults in Denmark found that people who over a 23-year period habitually consumed moderate to high amounts of foods rich in flavonoids—naturally occurring chemical compounds found predominantly in plant-based foods—were less likely to die from cancer or heart disease. Participants consuming about 500 milligrams of flavonoids each day had the lowest risk of death related to these ailments. The protective effect appeared to be strongest for those at high risk of chronic diseases due to cigarette smoking and higher intakes of alcohol.
Adding these items to your grocery cart can help to give your diet a flavonoid punch.
Matthew Kadey, MS, RD
Matthew Kadey, MS, RD, is a James Beard Award–winning food journalist, dietitian and author of the cookbook Rocket Fuel: Power-Packed Food for Sport + Adventure (VeloPress 2016). He has written for dozens of magazines, including Runner’s World, Men’s Health, Shape, Men’s Fitness and Muscle and Fitness.
