THE case has never been clearer: Eat less bacon and more beans.

An analysis published on Thursday (Nov 17) in the journal BMC Medicine, drawing on data from 37 studies, adds to the evidence that eating fewer animal-based foods – especially processed meats – and replacing them with whole grains, legumes and nuts is linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes.

The study is particularly useful because it details which dietary changes are most strongly linked to better health, said Qi Sun, an associate professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. He was not involved with the project.