In the first meta-analysis of its kind, researchers summarized and evaluated evidence from 37 studies looking at the health impact of replacing animal-based foods with unprocessed and minimally processed plant-based foods.
Their findings support the idea that replacing red and processed meats with plant foods like legumes, nuts, and whole grains, and swapping butter for olive or other plant oils is associated with better health .
Importantly, it is not just a matter of cutting back on foods like red meat and butter. For maximum health impact, you need to replace them with unprocessed or minimally processed plant foods.