Emily Laurence・September 27, 2021

 Pin ItPhoto: Stocksy/Jovo JovanovicShare on facebookShare on twitterShare on pinterestShare on emailThere’s no denying that plant-based eating is finally taking the nation by storm. (It seems like forever ago that the ketogenic diet and Paleo dominated every food convo, right?) Of course, just because something is popular certainly doesn’t mean it’s worth adopting. But this is one instance where doing so will benefit your health tremendously.

There’s already plenty of scientific evidence showing how plant-based eating directly benefits both short- and long-term health. (It’s a win for the environment, too.) But the confirmation just keeps coming. This month, not one but two new studies solidified the link between a plant-based diet and heart health as well as longevity.

Both published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the first study, titled “A Plant-Centered Diet and Risk of Incident Cardiovascular Disease during Young to Middle Adulthood” took into account data from 4,946 people spanning from 1986 to 2016. Researchers found that plant-based eating was directly linked to a lowered risk of heart disease—which happens to be the number one cause of death in the U.S.

The second study focused specifically on postmenopausal women. Participants followed the portfolio diet, an eating plan that emphasizes plant proteins, soluble fiber, fruit, and monounsaturated fats. Similarly to the other study, researchers found that this way of eating was linked to better heart health. Together, these studies show that plant-based eating can benefit someone no matter what age they are. Keep reading to learn more about the studies straight from the researchers and see how you can apply the intel to your own life.RELATED STORIESNot Eating Meat at Dinner Can Reduce Your Risk of Heart Disease…4 Ways Your Body Is Telling You That You’re Not Eating Enough…

Inside the link between a plant-based diet and heart health and longevity

Plant-based eating may be a central topic of conversation now, but back in 1986 when researchers of the first study started collecting data, it certainly wasn’t the movement it is today. David Jacobs, PhD, one of the study authors, explains that the goal of the study was to see if there was a connection between a diet that centered on plant-based foods and lower risk of cardiovascular disease.

The participants’ diets were evaluated over the course of 30 years using a scoring system consisting of 46 different food groups. The food groups were divided into subgroups based on their known links to heart disease. These subgroups included ‘beneficial’ foods (like fruit, veggies, beans, nuts, and whole grains), ‘adverse’ foods (including fried food, red meat, and processed foods), and ‘neutral’ foods (like non-fried potatoes, refined grains, lean meats, and shellfish). Participants had eight exams over the course of the 30 years that included lab tests, physical measurements, medical histories, and assessment of lifestyle factors. The results show a strong link: People who most ate nutritionally-rich plant foods and fewer animal products had a 52 percent lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease compared to those who didn’t have a diet where nutrient-rich plant foods were the focus.https://d43a1d10cac4c494d929d0b75d9ec065.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

Variety is an imperative part of eating for heart health

There is one more particularly interesting result to note. While nutritionally-rich plant foods were the major driver to a high score, some animal products also contributed, such as fish, chicken, and dairy. This indicates that it isn’t necessary to give up animal products completely in order to eat with heart health in mind. Dr. Jacobs also emphasizes that there wasn’t one food in particular that was linked to a lowered risk of heart disease. “What we found is that you have to eat a variety of [nutrient-dense] foods,” he says.

The study on the portfolio diet started collecting data in 1993—again, long before plant-based eating was a term we were saying on the reg. Andrea Glenn MSc, RD, one of the study authors, says there was already scientific evidence connecting the portfolio diet to lower blood pressure levels and less inflammation. “But we didn’t know if the effects would translate into lower cardiovascular disease events, like heart attacks and stroke,” she says.

What is the portfolio diet, exactly?

If you’ve never heard of the portfolio diet, it’s an eating plan that was first developed in the early 2000s at the University of Toronto and St. Michael’s Hospital. “It is a ‘portfolio’ of cholesterol-lowering foods including plant protein, nuts, [soluble] fiber sources such as oats, barley, psyllium, eggplant, okra, and some fruits, and plant oils, such as canola, sunflower, avocado, or extra virgin olive oil,” Glenn explains. As you can see, it’s pretty synonymous with plant-based eating. Though this study focused specifically on postmenopausal women, the results echoed that of the other study: A diet high in plant-based foods was linked to an 11 percent less likelihood of developing heart disease.

How to apply this intel to your own life

Both studies offer up great news, which is that you have the power to take control of your heart health through what you eat. When asked what advice he has for people who want to apply the study findings to their life, Dr. Jacobs’s tip is simple: Eat a wide variety of nutrient-rich plants. And if you want to keep fish, lean meat, and dairy in your life too, go for it.

As a registered dietitian, Glenn recognizes that people who are used to meat being the center of every meal may find switching to a plant-based diet intimidating. Her advice is to start small, making changes in increments instead of completely changing the way you eat at once. “For example, you could start with having oatmeal with nuts and berries for breakfast or adding tofu to your dinner one or two times a week,” she says. “The great thing about the portfolio diet is that we know that even small additions of the food items can make a difference, and the more items you add, the likely the greater benefits you will see with your heart health.”

It’s never too late to start, too. Something that Dr. Jacobs and his fellow researchers saw in their findings was that regardless of how people ate earlier in life, improving their diet had a 61 percent lower risk of subsequent cardiovascular disease at the 20-year check-up compared to people whose diets got less nutrient-rich. So whether you’re 28 or 88, tweaking your diet to make nutrient-rich plants the star is worth it as far as your health is concerned.

Oh hi! You look like someone who loves free workouts, discounts for cutting-edge wellness brands, and exclusive Well+Good content. Sign up for Well+, our online community of wellness insiders, and unlock your rewards instantly.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2019003.9K

When it comes to fitness, athletes know that what you prepare in the kitchen can sometimes be just as important as what you do in the gym – if not more so. That’s why one of the best things for anyone looking to get into great shape to do is to watch what the top athletes are eating. And as it so happens, some of their dietary habits may surprise you; did you know, for instance, that some of he world’s top female athletes have gone completely vegan? 

It’s something that seems to be catching on more and more among true sporting superstars, so we thought we’d take a look at a few major examples. 

Diana Taurasi

WNBA star and three-time Olympic gold medalist Diana Taurasi adopted a plant-based diet a few years back as part of a greater effort to improve her overall health. “As you get older, you get conscious of what you’re eating and how that affects your body,” she explained. “The way you look and feel that’s really helped me.”

It’s likely no coincidence that Taurasi’s coach, Sandy Brondello has also noticed marked improvement in Taurasi’s, crediting the diet for enabling her to become a better playmaker. That’s quite a remarkable thing given that Taurasi is in the later stages of her career, and now 37 years old. Yet her dedication to nutrition appears to be helping her to improve even after all her years in the league – and helping her team, too, as a result. 

Venus Williams

Venus Williams famously switched to a raw vegan diet following her diagnosis with Sjögren’s syndrome, an autoimmune condition that briefly but seriously threatened her career. The condition in fact impacted Willliams’s athletic performance and overall health to the point that she withdrew suddenly from the 2011 U.S. Open, and there was speculation that she might retire. 

Now that she’s eliminated animal products from her diet though, Williams has seen her symptoms subside, and has become a formidable force in the WTA once more. In fact, U.S. bookmaking services are beginning to post odds for the 2019 U.S. Open, and while Williams isn’t the favourite, it’s miraculous that she’s going to be appearing with even respectable odds. Eight years after her sudden withdrawal in 2011, Williams will be expected to compete every time she takes the court at this year’s tournament – thanks, in large part, to her dietary shift. 

Alex Morgan

It wasn’t exactly a surprise when the U.S. won the World Cup earlier this year, especially considering that the Americans were the defending champions and most analysts and betting firms alike had them tabbed to lift the trophy. More simply the U.S. was a prohibitive favourite because of its incredibly talented class of players. And while it was Megan Rapinoe who stole the show bring the Cup, Alex Morgan may be the best of the Americans. 

The forward credits a vegan diet for her success, with her love of animals having been the deciding factor in her decision to adopt the diet. Combined with a strenuous workout routine, Morgan’s nutrition has allowed her to become a relentless force in football. She racked up six goals of her own throughout the World Cup, and added another championship to her sensational resume. 

So – Should you do it?

If you’re still unsure about turning vegan yourself, it may help to note that there are lots of tips available on how to transition to a plant-based diet. We’d also note that it may not be for everyone, and there are other way to maintain good health and athleticism. Given some of the examples above though, perhaps it’s easier to see why so many people are giving this lifestyle a chance!

Author: Tanja Schmitz

Founder and Editor of Fitness Magazine. You’ll find her behind her computer or on her bike, dreaming up new ways to improve or create content for you. Twitter

A judge recommended the tribe be allowed to resume its hunt of gray whales. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will make the final decision.Something went wrong.https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.481.0_en.html#goog_12711746000:04 of 02:09Volume 0% Author: Eric WilkinsonPublished: 5:27 PM PDT September 24, 2021Updated: 6:05 PM PDT September 24, 2021

NEAH BAY, Wash. — A Seattle judge has recommended the Makah Indian Tribe be allowed to resume their traditional hunt of gray whales after a decades-long legal battle with environmental groups. 

The tribe last hunted a whale in May 1999, when whalers fired the “shot heard ’round the world” as viewers across the globe watched Makah tribesmen take their first gray whale in 70 years on live TV. https://4c0d1eed8ee71a478794d2c83a21005d.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

Before that, the tribe had not exercised its treaty rights to hunt whales for decades because their populations were declining. 

Vice-Chairman of the Makah Tribal Council Patrick DePoe was 16-years-old when he celebrated the whale’s arrival on the beaches of Neah Bay.  

He says it is a lost but sacred tradition that is part of the soul of every Makah tribe member.

“It was something missing that I didn’t even know was missing until I was out there with it.”

Soon after the hunt, environmental groups took the tribe to court to prevent future whale hunting.  After two decades of legal wrangling, hearings were held in Seattle in November 2019 to help decide the matter.

Related Articles

• Makah Tribe’s quest to hunt another gray whale moves to court
• Makah Tribe may resume whale hunts off Washington coast under government proposal

Now, nearly two years after that, and with the whale population rebounding to healthy levels, a judge has recommended the tribe be allowed to kill up to three gray whales a year.

Despite the victory, however, DePoe said this is a bittersweet day.

“I can’t help but reflect on the people we’ve lost over the years trying to get to this point. There are people who have passed on. There are people who have aged to the point where they might not be able to jump into a canoe and take part in something so dangerous,” he said.

The Sea Shepherd Society, which fought the tribe in the waters and the courtroom, had no comment on the decision.

During the hearings two years ago, Catherine Pruett with Sea Shepherd Legal argued no whaling should ever be allowed.

“These are highly social and sensitive creatures. We should be protecting them. They’re so important for ecosystems. As a culture, we need to know not to do this.”

>> Download KING 5’s Roku and Amazon Fire apps to watch live newscasts and video on demand

While a key victory for the tribe, the judge’s decision is only a recommendation. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will have the final say.https://4c0d1eed8ee71a478794d2c83a21005d.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

Three weeks of public hearings are expected to begin in Seattle next week.

Members of the Sea Shepherd Society have previously told KING 5 News they expected defeats both in court and with NOAA and have been preparing to sue NOAA to tie the case up in court as long as possible.   

For now, though, the Makah are one major step closer to putting their whaling canoe into the water once again.

“We have to finish this,” said DePoe. “We have to follow this process through. There is a finish line and there is a group that is ready to jump in and start training as soon as we give that green light.”

By Reuters September 23, 2021 Updated: September 23, 2021 biggersmallerPrint

BEIJING—The health authority in southern China’s Guangdong province said on Wednesday that a single case of a human being infected with the H5N6 strain of bird flu has been reported in the city of Dongguan.

The infected patient, a 53-year-old male, is being treated in hospital, the Health Commission of Guangdong Province said in a statement, adding that experts considered the risk of transmission to be low at this stage. Reuters

https://phys.org/news/2021-09-diversity-species-richness-ecosystems.html?fbclid=IwAR2B9am2ELuBMeHsU9cJE_Nyk1czNoBEi5Aw3lxfnwBzKeWCIJql9RT8oVk

SEPTEMBER 24, 2021

by Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum

Microorganisms, plants, and animals accomplish great feats every day. For example, by decomposing material, producing plant biomass, or pollinating flowers, they keep nature ‘up and running,” thereby securing the livelihood of humans. Numerous studies have shown that a high biodiversity can have a positive impact on these as well as on other ecosystem functions.https://909ed1af5af9e3f6f6b8ae24496999a8.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

“But there is another important factor at play. If the environmental conditions of an ecosystem are heterogeneous, for example, in terms of soil properties and climate, this could give an additional boost to the positive effect of biodiversity on ecosystem functions,” says Dr. Jörg Albrecht of the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre.

Teaming up with other researchers, Albrecht examined whether the degree of environmental heterogeneity influences the positive effect of biodiversity on ecosystem functions. To this end, the researchers analyzed data from 13 natural and man-made ecosystems on Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro. It is one of the first studies to investigate such a question in real ecosystems along an elevational gradient of more than 3500 meters.

“The data show that the positive effect of biodiversity on ecosystem functions is about 20 percent higher in a heterogeneous environment,” explains Albrecht, and he continues, “This means that, if the global trend towards land-use intensification continues, the positive effect of biodiversity on ecosystem functions could be diminished.”

In addition, the researchers examined which aspect of biodiversity is most beneficial to the provision of ecosystem functions: Changes in species richness or species turnover, that is, changes in the species composition along the elevational gradient. It became apparent that species richness plays a greater role in ecosystem functions than species turnover.

“Frankly, this came as a surprise to us, since in theory, the opposite had been assumed. Moreover, species communities in the savanna at the foot of the mountain are completely different from those in the cloud forests or at the alpine summit. Thus, species turnover is very high. In contrast, species richness, that is, the number of species that co-occur in an ecosystem, changes to a lesser extent, but is far more important for ecosystem functioning,” says Dr. Marcell Peters of the University of Würzburg.

The researchers consider the results to be evidence that regional conservation efforts should focus on preserving species richness. “Our results confirm that biodiversity is not only important on a small scale as has been shown in experiments, but that these effects become even stronger in real, large-scale landscapes. We were thus able to show that protecting biodiversity is not a luxury, but essential for maintaining functional ecosystems,” concludes Peters.

Explore furtherNZ’s fossils show more species lived in warmer waters, but current warming trends may break this pattern

More information: Jörg Albrecht et al, Species richness is more important for ecosystem functioning than species turnover along an elevational gradient, Nature Ecology & Evolution (2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-021-01550-9Journal information:Nature Ecology & EvolutionProvided by Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum