American Heart Association Promotes Plant Protein to Support Heart Health
Eating more protein and fiber is top of mind for many Americans right now, and a new initiative from the American Heart Association (AHA) aims to make hitting nutrition goals easy and delicious.
Launched last week, Plant-Forward Eating: Your Guide to Protein, Fiber and Flavor is a collection of consumer-friendly resources that help people explore plant-forward eating in practical ways. As the campaign website puts it, “Shifting to plant sources of protein is a simple way to eat better—it can improve your heart health, aid in digestion and help you feel fuller. And you won’t have to overhaul the dishes you love.” The guide’s core idea is that starting small and familiar is the key to a sustainable shift in eating patterns. The guide includes tools for meal planning and grocery shopping, along with craveable plant-forward recipes and how-to videos, so everyone at the dinner table can find options that work for them.
Eating More Plants Associated with Multiple Health Benefits
The benefits are substantial: according to the AHA, “Research suggests that getting protein mostly from plants can improve cardiovascular health and lower your risk of chronic diseases.” Healthy plant proteins are also low in saturated fat, and some are high in healthy unsaturated fats or fiber.
The AHA’s emphasis on plant-forward eating builds on research linking primarily plant-based diets to lower rates of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes. That matters because roughly 60 percent of U.S. adults live with at least one chronic condition, and 40 percent live with two or more. Eating more plant proteins can be a cost-effective way to help prevent and manage these conditions.
Growing More Affordable, Accessible Nutrition
At PBFI, we work across the value chain to make the case that plant protein is a smart investment from farm to fork: a growth market for American farmers and a lever for expanding access to affordable nutrition. For example, we are working with retailer dietitian teams to make it easier for shoppers to find health-promoting plant-based options and, further upstream, partnering with regional stakeholders to help American farmers diversify their crop income with plant proteins. More plants on more plates means better nutrition for Americans, new economic opportunity for farmers, and strategic opportunity for businesses across the value chain. Efforts like the AHA’s Plant-Forward Eating guide show the growing recognition that adding more plants can drive meaningful change.
