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Impact of WFPB on health conditions

Cardiovascular disease

Dietary factors are central to the CVD pathogenesis. A low-fat plant-based diet, combined with regular exercise and a healthful overall lifestyle, can prevent, delay, and reverse the progression of atherosclerosis, with subsequent reduction in cardiovascular events.
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Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed in up to 58% of people by following a healthy eating plan, maintaining a healthy weight and being active. A low-fat plant-based diet will improve glycemic control, blood pressure and plasma lipid concentrations.
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Breast cancer

Breast cancer is less prevalent in countries where simple plant-based foods are staples. Diets high in meat, high-fat dairy products, saturated fat, processed foods, and simple sugars, while simultaneously low in fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and fibre, are linked to higher breast cancer risk.
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Colorectal cancer

A whole food plant-based diet is naturally high in overall dietary fibre, nutrients and antioxidants, all of which support a healthy gut microbiome and reduce the risk of inflammation occurring in the colonic environment.
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Prostate cancer

Evidence shows that plant-based nutrition and other lifestyle factors may help prevent progression or even promote regression of early-stage prostate cancer, the most common type of cancer for men in Australia and New Zealand.
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Obesity

The highly processed, and energy dense Western diet is the root cause of obesity. Obesity is rare in populations consuming traditional diets based predominantly on whole plant foods, but has become a worldwide epidemic with increasing Westernisation of diets and lifestyles.
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Chronic kidney disease

Prevention and early detection are especially important for kidney disease. The two most common causes of CKD are diabetes and high blood pressure, which are responsible for up to two-thirds of cases. These conditions in turn are often caused by the highly processed, energy dense Western diet.
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Mental health

Diet may influence mood in several ways, for example obesity and mood disorders are often comorbidities. A Western diet, high in fats, refined flours, sugar and highly processed foods is associated with an increased risk of a depressive illness.
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Dysbiosis

Research consistently shows the benefits of plant-based for the health of the microbiota. Diets high in whole foods with a variety of dietary fibre types are beneficial for the gut microbiota, with changes notable within just two weeks of changing diet.
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Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis may often be ameliorated with diet changes, and some cases of complete remission have been reported. Patients who follow vegan or vegetarian diets may experience significant improvement in symptoms.
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Polycystic ovary syndrome

Dietary modifications are recommended as a first-line therapy for the management of PCOS. Low fat, plant-based diets cause weight loss, reduce insulin resistance, which affects 50-70% of women with PCOS and improves beta cell function.
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Chronic pain

The most common conditions causing chronic pain include arthritis and back pain. A whole food plant-based diet contains many anti-inflammatory phytonutrients including antioxidants and has been shown to reduce pain symptoms in arthritis and low back pain.
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Acne vulgaris

Acne is common in countries following Western diets. Diets based on whole plant foods, rich in fibre and polyphenols, can provide a natural, low-risk intervention for both preventing and treating acne vulgaris. Milk consumption has been associated with more severe acne.
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If you are not medically trained and looking for more accessible information on health conditions visit our general public pages.

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