Plant-Based Proteins Contribute to Healthy Aging, Study Finds

Swapping a small portion of animal or dairy protein for plant protein significantly boosts odds of healthy aging, according to research analyzing data from the Nurses’ Health Study.

According to a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a diet rich in plant-based proteins and low in animal ones contributes to healthy aging, especially among those assigned female at birth.
The study analyzed data from the Nurses’ Health Study, a prospective cohort study of over 120,000 registered nurses whose lifestyle and health data were collected since 1976.
Eating more protein, in general, was linked to better odds of aging, but it was significantly more for individuals who were eating plant-based versus animal-based protein.
Swapping out three percent of your energy intake from an animal or dairy protein, carbohydrate, or fat for a plant protein of equivalent calories boosted the odds of healthy aging even more, anywhere between 1.22 to 1.58 times.
The benefit derived from plant protein might not be in the protein itself, but in other nutrients found in higher proportions in plants, such as dietary fiber, micronutrients, and antioxidants like polyphenols.