Today I discuss my view on plant-based diets by looking at different systematic reviews comparing nutrient intakes of plant-based eaters versus omnivores, plus the impact of such diets on cardiovascular disease deaths and another looking at mental health outcomes. I also report on recent research comparing the cost of these diets as well.

This is often a highly charged emotional debate, and lots of studies in this area have inherent biases. We know that some older studies sponsored by the meat and diary industry were flawed, as are quite a few modern studies on plant-based diets. Systematic reviews tend to weed out these weaker studies and combine the data from lots of different studies to get a clearer picture. 

• Here's the paper on the cost of the diets.
• Her's the one on mental health outcomes.
• Here's the one on nutrient status.
• Here's the one on CVD risk.