Plant-based protein, over the years, has hogged the spotlight for all the right reasons. Call it a new food trend, it has gradually paved the way to our everyday meal routine. From promoting weight loss to boosting daily nutrient profile – plant-based protein is dubbed to be rich in several health-benefiting properties. Further adding to the list, a new study has found that diet with higher intake of plant-protein may have an association with lower rate of early mortality. As per the researchers, this study aids the “current dietary recommendations to increase consumption of plant proteins in the general population.”

As per the findings, publish in journal The BMJ, diets consisting of plant protein (such as legumes, whole grains and nuts) can reduce the risk of deaths from causes like diabetes, heart disease and stoke.

A team of researchers from Iran and the USA analysed 32 studies over a span of 32 years. The study included 715,128 participants, out of which 16,429 died of heart-related disease and 22,303 from cancer.

The findings showed that plant protein reduced all-cause mortality by 8 percent and cardiovascular disease mortality by 12 percent.

The report in BMJ stated that the possible reasons for this positive association could be plant-based protein’s contribution in managing blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels – which might further reduce the risk of conditions like heart disease and type-2 diabetes. However, as per the researchers, further studies are required in this regard.

“These findings have important public health implications as intake of plant protein can be increased relatively easily by replacing animal protein and could have a large effect on longevity,” the researchers stated.