Plant-based diets for health maintenance and disease prevention: Why and how?

Abstract

Organs and tissues of biological systems must control the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) across the human life span. ROS are produced continuously as by-products of normal cell metabolism and also under stress conditions, such as malnutrition, undernutrition, environmental pollutants and unhealthy lifestyle behaviours. A fine balance between the levels of cellular ROS and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants is crucial for cell redox homeostasis and organ structural integrity and function. Disturbance of this balance causes oxidative damages of cellular macromolecules, induces mitochondrial defect and ultimately leads to organ dysfunction and increases the risk of development and progression of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Bioactive antioxidant compounds in plant foods can protect biological organs and tissues against ROS-induced oxidative stress, thereby promoting health and preventing or delaying the onset of NCDs. There are at least two possible preventive strategies for health maintenance and disease prevention: avoiding exposure to ROS-generating environmental factors and boosting cellular antioxidant defence capacity. Therefore, both regular intake of plant-based diets rich in antioxidants and healthy lifestyle behaviours can potentially prevent ROS-induced oxidative stress and associated NCDs. Considering the biodiversity and availability of plants worldwide and their beneficial health impacts, this chapter will review why and how plant-based diets and their bioactive antioxidant compounds, in addition to healthy lifestyle behaviours, can provide support for health maintenance and disease prevention.