create an account

Create an account to track orders, manage your meal plan, and update your delivery preferences.

Already have an account with us?

pinterest Save

Deaths linked to heart disease are on the rise: here’s how a plant-based diet can help

Heart disease is on the rise, and risk factors like high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes are at a shockingly high rate. There are more and more deaths related to “silent heart attacks” and heart disease than ever before. While The rates for cardiovascular disease were on the decline, they have been on a steady incline since 2010, according to research published in the medical journal JAMA.

So, why are rates so high? Let’s take a look at why more people are dying from cardiovascular disease and what exactly we can do to turn this epidemic around. 

A plant-based diet can lower the risk of heart disease. 

 

What the Stats Show

There’s no denying that death rates related to cardiovascular disease have skyrocketed. In 2017, the death rates caused by heart disease according to the US Centers for Disease Control and the Prevention’s WONDER database were a whopping 647,457 from heart disease, 35,316 from high blood pressure, 46,383 from stroke, and 83,564 from diabetes.

They also noted that in 2003, the rate of hypertension increased (a big risk factor for heart disease,) which is thought to be linked to the rapid increase in deaths related to cardiovascular disease over the last 16 years.

What’s even more alarming is that millions (47 million to be exact) of Americans are also walking around with cardiometabolic disorders. Cardiometabolic disorders include health issues like high blood pressure insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, and fat in the mid-section all of which increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

 

What’s Causing The Jump in Death Rates Related to Cardiovascular Disease?

So, what’s going on here? Why are so many Americans dying from cardiovascular disease? It all can be linked back to diet. We have to take a look at the impact The Standard American diet is having on our health as a country.

The Standard American Diet is packed full of inflammatory, refined, high-sugar, sodium-filled, and processed foods that lead to all the risk factors of cardiovascular disease.

Research from Tufts University, the University of Cambridge, and Montefiore Medical Center took a look at data provided by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. They found that 700,000 deaths were linked to heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

 The research showed that 45% of the deaths were linked to poor eating habits and that rates for deaths related to heart disease were highest in those who consumed processed meats, sugary beverages, and those whose nut consumption was low.

Stroke related deaths were highest in those who had a low intake of fruits and veggies and consumed a large amount of salt.  

 

 

How a Plant-Based Diet Can Help

It’s clear that something needs to change, and it needs to change fast. Assistant professor of cardiology at Northwest University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Dr. Sadiya Khan states that we are clearly “losing ground in the battle of cardiovascular disease.” She stresses just how important it is to find strategies to reduce these deaths related to cardiometabolic disease.

Here’s where a plant-based diet comes in. Plant-based eating has been found to provide a powerful way to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Studies have clearly proven that Americans need to be increasing their intake of plant-based foods from things like fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, and that we need to really limit or even eliminate our intake of processed foods and sugary beverages.

 

Looking for ways to add more plant-based foods to your diet? Veestro makes it easier than ever by providing delicious and nourishing foods delivered straight to your door that can be easily heated without spending hours in the kitchen. Check out Veestro’s meal plans to start reducing your risk of chronic disease with the power of plants.

Read more about Stop the Madness! Treat Heart Disease with a healthy diet - not drugs!  

Veestro.com

Related Blog Posts

6 tasty swaps for your favorite comfort foods

5 veggies you didn’t know had protein

5 winter superfoods for more energy

plant foods that boost your energy

5 plant-based foods to ease anxiety

foods that help your body produce collagen naturally

5 hacks for a plant-based july 4th bbq

snacks: eat this, not that!

4 reasons plants are the true superfood

5 high protein veggies to add to your diet 

fresh is not always best: 4 surprising benefits of frozen food

5 ways plants power us in 2021

4 reasons why a plant-based diet will give you healthy, vibrant skin

what are food deserts and food justice?

5 easy and healthy vegan holiday side dishes 

benefits of fermented foods for gut health

tofu: is it good or bad for you?

the surprising benefits of chocolate for health and well-being

benefits of eating beans

5 easy plant-based substitutes

3 easy vegan recipes for dinner

5 delicious and refreshing vegan summer beverages

5 advantages of plant-based diets for children

use this one hack to make going vegan easy 

here’s how a plant-based diet may reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes 

easy plant-based breakfast ideas

6 reasons why veestro is the best vegan meal delivery service

eat these 5 foods to get all the necessary vitamins and minerals

how protein and fiber help digestion and muscle recovery (and where to get them on a plant based diet)

how to stay hydrated this summer

5 foods that are good for your gut health

5 plant-based foods for better sleep

when cravings hit; eat this, not that!

5 superfoods that help boost immunity

5 real superfoods + 3 that are all hype

not all carbs are created equal: complex vs. simple carbs

5 foods for beautiful skin

breakfast: eat this, not that

top 5 mood-boosting foods to add to your diet

how can eating more plants help your heart? 3 benefits

5 health-boosting spices

here’s why the body thrives on carbs

the power of choosing beans over beef

how to boost your immune system for the cold and flu season

is oat milk healthy?

what you eat can impact climate change

an easy approach to reducing your risk of breast cancer

why does magnesium matter? 5 magnesium-rich foods

3 simple tips for losing weight starting today

deaths linked to heart disease are on the rise: here’s how a plant-based diet can help

your second brain - tips for a healthier gut

microwaves and nutrition: do microwaves kill our food?

what's the deal with intermittent fasting?

eat these 5 foods to stay hydrated this summer

allergic to soy? these are 7 non-soy sources of protein

think fresh meals are better than frozen? think again!

what 1,500 calories looks like on a plant-based diet

why plant protein is better for you

your sugar detox guide

are you vitamin d deficient?

here’s what happens to your body on a juice cleanse

top 5 benefits of a detox diet to reset yourself

war on waste: are fresh veggies healthier than frozen?

got milk? the dairy industry’s mass deception

5 ways you save the world by eating vegan for lent

what happens to your body when you go vegan?

how easily can the pope go vegan?

supercharge your sex life

is it possible to prevent and reverse disease?

detox your body

eating healthy doesn’t have to be scary - 5 simple tips

the most unusual facts about berries

can you get enough protein from plants?

5 foods you should never eat

spotlight on: activated charcoal

5 superfoods for women's health

ancient remedies we use today

five magnesium-rich foods for stress relief

why detox?

7 ways to beat allergies naturally

10 ways to sneak in more veggies

high fiber foods you can snack on

myth vs fact: 5 things you didn't know about vitamin c

plant-based aphrodisiacs that work

5 heart-healthy foods

8 underrated veggies & why you should be eating them

probiotics - your best friend around the holidays

5 easy ways to detox after overindulging

holiday spotlight: pumpkin

the key benefits of juicing

should you take supplements?

veggie anatomy 101: carrots

is plant-based good for kids?

good carbs vs. bad carbs

food facts: tomatoes

frozen vs. fresh: know your veggies

10 seasonal superfoods

5 summer foods to keep you hydrated

how much water should you really drink?

stone fruit: five favorites for summer

men's health month: five plant-based benefits for men

5 protein-packed veggies

10 foods that boost your brain

five concerns about plant-based calories

vitamin d: essential like the sun

is soy good or bad for men?

12 foods to keep your heart happy

the sweet truth about sugar: myths and facts

get grounded with this winter superfood

5 winter squashes you need for better health right now

halloween inspired veggies to help you live longer

fat vs. sugar: the battle rages on

the soybean saga: myths and facts

5 reasons to fall in love with kale all over again

five reasons to get your calcium from plants

top reasons to have an apple a day

meeting your nutritional needs with veestro

just how important is breakfast?

food facts: watermelon

plant based protein to keep you satisfied

the truth behind antioxidants and food

do you get enough energy from your food?

is it a flower or a vegetable: discover the artichoke

6 foods that help reduce inflammation

grains to protect your immune system this winter

linking breast cancer and diet

nih guide: how to lower blood pressure with a dash eating plan

stop the madness! treat heart disease with a healthy diet -- not drugs!

want to lower your cholesterol? a pill is not a magic bullet!

are you at risk for heart disease?

can eating more veggies save your eyesight?

don't have breakfast without one of these three!