New study shows some plant-based diets may raise heart disease riskSummary: Researchers tracking over 63,000 adults found that high-quality, minimally processed plant foods significantly reduce cardiovascular risk. But when those plant foods are ultra-processed, the advantage disappears—and can even backfire. Some ultra-processed plant diets increased risk by 40%. The study urges a shift toward whole, naturally nutrient-rich plant foods. FULL STORY Not all plant-based diets improve heart health—only those built on minimally processed, nutrient-dense foods do. Ultra-processed plant products can erase the benefits and even increase cardiovascular risk. Credit: Shutterstock Previous studies have indicated that eating large amounts of ultra-processed foods[1] is linked with a higher likelihood of developing cardiovascular diseases. Other research[2] has found that diets centered on plant-based foods can lower this risk when those foods offer balanced nutrition and are consumed in appropriate proportions. To explore how nutrition relates to cardiovascular health in more detail, scientists from INRAE, Inserm, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, and Cnam examined more than whether foods came from plant or animal sources. Their assessment also incorporated the nutritional makeup of foods, including factors such as carbohydrate, fat, and antioxidant vitamin and mineral content, along with the level of industrial processing involved. How the Study Evaluated Diets and Food Choices The team evaluated data from 63,835 adults enrolled in the French NutriNet-Santé cohort. Participants were followed for an average of 9.1 years, with some tracked for as long as 15 years. Information on what they ate and drank (collected over at least three days) was gathered through online questionnaires. This detailed approach allowed researchers to classify diets based on the share of plant-based and animal-based foods, while also considering both nutritional quality and processing level. The findings showed that adults who consumed more plant-based foods of higher nutritional quality (lower in fat, sugar, and salt) and with minimal industrial processing had about a 40 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease compared with those who ate fewer nutritious plant-based foods and more animal-based products[3]. However, people who ate larger amounts of plant-based foods that were nutritionally higher quality but ultra-processed, including items such as industrial whole meal breads, store-bought soups, ready-made pasta dishes, or commercially prepared salads with dressing, did not experience a reduced cardiovascular risk relative to individuals who consumed fewer of these products and more animal-based foods. Ultra-Processed Plant Foods and Increased Heart Disease Risk A notably higher risk emerged for adults whose diets were dominated by plant-based foods that were both lower in nutritional quality and ultra-processed. These items included crisps, sweetened fruit drinks or sodas made from plant extracts, chocolate-based sweets or confectionery, sugary breakfast cereals, and savory biscuits. Their cardiovascular disease risk was roughly 40 percent higher than that of people who consumed more plant-based foods of good nutritional quality with little or no industrial processing. Why Processing Level Matters for Plant-Based Eating Overall, the results show that understanding the relationship between diet and cardiovascular health requires considering the nutritional quality of foods and how heavily they are processed, in addition to the balance of plant-based and animal-based components. These findings support public health recommendations that encourage the consumption of plant-based foods that are both nutritionally high quality and minimally processed (such as fresh, frozen, or high-quality canned fruits and vegetables without added fats, salt, sugar, or additives). Notes [1], [2], and [3] can be read at the article source.... ARTICLE SOURCE: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251214100928.htm
The wife and I are fanatics about Mexican Food and we simply refuse to give up on it. Also, over the last three decades, we have learned to cook our own. We just have to be creative on carnivore, so here is how we make extremely low carb, Beef enchiladas, perfect for the Carnivore diet.
The only carb is see in this whole recipe is 1 gram in the Sharp Cheddar Cheese, 1/2 a gram in the Garlic Powder and 1/2 a gram in the Cumin. So 2 grams total and the sauce serves two-three people.... so very, very little carb, maybe less than 2 grams for the whole plate. (By the way, zero carb in the dried chili's.)
1. Make your own Enchilada Sauce, because we have not been able to find zero carb Enchilada Sauce and homemade is better. Start out with a bag of dried chili's and toast them in a dry Iron Skillet for 5 minutes. Then put them in hot water for 30 minutes, and into the blender with salt, garlic powder and cumin. (very small amount of garlic and cumin). Once blended, strain the sauce and pour in a skillet to simmer.
2. For two plates, crack three eggs and whip, adding about a 1/4 cup of water to make it more runny. Thinly coat a large skillet with butter, leaving very little oil and pour 1/2 the eggs in... (This is the one place I have to use a non-stick skillet). Rotate the pan handle, allowing the egg to flow all around the pan, making something that looks like a crepe...... very thin. You have to flip and cook the other side, or you can cheat like I do and have an oven cook the top with the broiler.
3. Brown a pound of hamburger meat and salt to taste.
4. Now you can build your enchilada. Lightly coat an oven safe plate with melted butter and place the egg crepe on the plate. On the crepe place your hamburger and a little sharp cheddar cheese and then drizzle some of the enchilada sauce on the inside and roll up. Drizzle the outside with more sauce and put a little cheese on top and put the plate in an oven on 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
5. We put a dish towel on the table, as a hot plate is about to come out of the oven.
If you called this a splurge or a meal on a cheat day...... you are cheating very little. I need this meal once a week.
I suppose you should stay away from this recipe if you have determined that chili's and/or enchilada sauce mess with your body. I was eating EVERY chili and hot peppers since I was a child and my body loves it. By the way, chili's are rich in vitamins and minerals - a good source of Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin B12, Vitamin E, Phosphorus, Calcium, Potassium, Zinc and Selenium.
PS. If you wanted zero carb enchiladas, just eliminate the cheese, garlic and cumin. They will still be darn good.