Copy of Health News Update: Plant-based Foods Effective at Disease Prevention

Mark Smith • February 9, 2026

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Health News Update: Plant-based Foods Effective at Disease Prevention    2.9.26

Hello again: If you have been following my blogs, you know that I strongly promote the anti-inflammatory properties of the predominantly unprocessed, whole-foods, plant-based food plan. Here is a recent study supporting that food plan:

 

“In summary, this long-term cohort study reveals that a higher intake of vegetables and whole grains, along with appropriate consumption of fruits, fungi and algae for both genders, significantly contributes to the prevention of four chronic diseases. Furthermore, it is recommended that men consume refined grains in moderation, while women should prioritize increasing their intake of nuts and seeds. These findings underscore the importance of personalized dietary guidance in optimizing health benefits and effectively preventing and managing chronic conditions.”

 

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41538-024-00362-y plants effective disease prevention

 

Bottom Line :

 

Once again, we see that what we eat really matters a lot. Only in plants do we find the hundred and forty thousand biochemicals we need to promote optimal gene expression and health. This long-term study answers many questions as to the lifetime benefits being significant and not just short-term.

 

However, plant-based food plans can vary widely and become very unhealthy. Thus, it is critical to go for the unprocessed, whole plant-based foods and avoid lower quality plant-based offerings.

 

“When comparing participants with the highest adherence to a nutritionally healthy and unprocessed plant-based diet, to those with the lowest (diet quality), we observed a 44% lower incidence of coronary heart disease and 32% lower risk for CVD. Similarly, participants with the highest adherence to an unhealthy and ultra-processed plant-based diet had a 46% higher incidence of coronary heart disease.” 

 

 

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanepe/article/PIIS2666-7762(25)00262-5/fulltext?utm_source=klaviyo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=%28Friday%20Email%20-%20Chris%20Kresser%20General%20News%29%20Chris%27s%20Friday%20Favorites&utm_term=French%20study&utm_content=French%20study&_kx=fARhTo_gi8X3B_2-MaeO_RyzUl9tvT3tr4re-Dy7cNQ.my75y6 diet quality is critically important

 

 

By Mark Smith March 23, 2026
Health News Update: How To Fight Inflammation and Chronic Disease 3.23.26 Hello again everyone: You might wonder why I keep focusing on food…so here are some of the reasons: food choices are the leading cause of death in the U.S. and spreading around the world. Poor food choices lead to inflammation which slowly destroy health. It is that simple, plain, and clear and backed by research. The next question: how do we fight back? Introduction The positive impact of food on health was postulated by the ancient Hippocrates, father of modern medicine with his famous quote: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” [1]. In the 21st century, scientists have focused on the effect of nutritional habits in diseases. Nowadays, it is well documented that food plays a noteworthy role in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases namely cardiovascular diseases (CVD), metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus type II, and cancer [2–5], as it correlates with others with the lipid pattern, the blood pressure, and the endothelial function. The scientists examine the effect of nutritional habits on disease emergence and progression in both individual nutrient intake and dietary patterns models. Worldwide, two dietary patterns are usually compared—the Mediterranean diet (MD) and the Western diet (WD) [3,6]. The Mediterranean diet reflects the food culture of most Mediterranean countries based on olive oil consumption, seasonal fresh vegetables, cereals, and plants in balance with low consumption of meat [7]. The Western diet, on the contrary, is dominated by high-fat dairy products processed and red meat [8]. However, discordance in the different MD patterns and consumed food doses had been recognized. Without any doubt, those discrepancies could confine and restrict our knowledge on the health benefit mechanisms of the MD [9]. Due to the above, the medical community along with nutritionists and dieticians take a keen interest in MD and its traits [7]. https://www.academia.edu/45378994/biomedicines_Mediterranean_Diet_as_a_Tool_to_Combat_Inflammation_and_Chronic_Diseases_An_Overview?email_work_card=view-paper food choices can fight inflammation and chronic disease Bottom Line: This is a 2020 paper and since then literally hundreds of papers on the MD have emerged showing how the food plan lowers inflammation and the risk for developing multiple chronic illnesses. Even still, lots of research needs to be done to elucidate the many mechanisms of how food impacts our system and how to optimally individualize dietary recommendations. At this point, our best strategy to prevent and/or recover from any chronic condition is to eat as clean and natural as possible. It has become rather obvious that the further away from a natural diet we get, the sicker we become. On top of that, I have yet to see a full recovery from any health issue without the foundation of a predominantly plant-based, unprocessed, whole foods approach…which is why I keep posting about this subject. All the best to you and yours!
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