Are Processed Plant-Based Foods Bad for Your Heart? Here's What Research Says

Not all plant-based foods support heart health — ultraprocessed items may actually increase cardiovascular risk despite their "vegan" label A large French cohort study of over 63,000 adults found an approximately 40% reduction in cardiovascular disease risk when participants ate minimally processed, nutrient-rich plant foods There was also a 38% increase in overall cardiovascular disease risk when diets were dominated by ultraprocessed, low-quality plant-based foods, even if they appeared "healthy" Key red flags include: high sodium in vegan meats and deli slices, seed oils that damage mitochondrial function, refined starches/sugars, and gut-disrupting additives like methylcellulose and gums The most protective plant-based diets are built from whole foods with minimal processing, like legumes, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains