New guidance from the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends shifting away from meat and toward plant-based protein sources, including nuts.
The 2026 Dietary Guidance to Improve Cardiovascular Health: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association updates the AHA’s 2021 recommendations, reflecting the latest evidence on reducing cardiovascular disease risk, improving quality of life, and supporting longevity.
As part of its emphasis on choosing healthy protein sources, the guidance encourages a shift from meat to plant sources such as nuts. The statement points to evidence that dietary patterns higher in nuts are associated with lower risks of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality.
The guidance also underscores that heart-healthy dietary patterns offer benefits beyond cardiovascular outcomes, including higher intake of dietary fiber—an area where nuts are specifically identified as a valuable source.
Lichtenstein, A. H., Khera, A., Anderson, C. A. M., Appel, L. J., DeSilva, D. M., Gardner, C., Hu, F. B., Jones, D. W., Petersen, K. S., & American Heart Association (2026). 2026 Dietary Guidance to Improve Cardiovascular Health: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation, 10.1161/CIR.0000000000001435. Advance online publication.
