Health

Plant-based protein could improve women's health, Tufts University study finds

By Mallika Marshall, MD

January 18, 2024 / 5:42 PM EST / CBS Boston

Tufts study says plant-based protein could improve women's health

BOSTON - A new study finds that if women want to improve their health, they should incorporate more plant-based protein into their diets.

Researchers at Tufts University studied data on nearly 3,800 middle-aged women and found that those who ate more protein, most notably plant protein, were more likely to be free from chronic diseases like cancer, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. They were also more likely to have better physical function and good mental health.

Animal and dairy-derived proteins did not provide the same level of benefit. Some examples of plant proteins include black beans, lentils, peanut butter, quinoa, and tofu.

Mallika Marshall, MD

Mallika Marshall, MD is an Emmy-award-winning journalist and physician who has served as the HealthWatch Reporter for CBS Boston/WBZ-TV for over 20 years. A practicing physician Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Dr. Marshall serves on staff at Harvard Medical School and practices at Massachusetts General Hospital at the MGH Chelsea Urgent Care and the MGH Revere Health Center, where she is currently working on the frontlines caring for patients with COVID-19. She is also a host and contributing editor for Harvard Health Publications (HHP), the publishing division of Harvard Medical School.

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