While other ‘industries’ have been idling or downright dormant during the COVID crisis, the university research machine has been ploughing ahead on projects of all sorts. Notable among the topics under the microscope lately is the connection between nutrition and heart health…
Recent findings about diet and heart health confirm contemporary wisdom,
and add some new knowledge nuggets to the picture…
It’s been a while since we got caught up on new findings about nutrition, diet and heart health. And the researchers have been churning them out relentlessly. So today, we’ll take a look at several recent studies that either reveal new discoveries or add new confirmation to conventional wisdom…
Eating more plant-based foods lowers risk of heart disease
From The American Heart Association: “Eating a plant-centered diet during young adulthood is associated with a lower risk of heart disease in middle age, according to a long-term study with about 30 years of follow-up. A separate study with about 15 years of follow-up found that eating more plant-based foods that have been shown to lower cholesterol, called the ‘Portfolio Diet’, is associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women.”
Vitamin K promotes heart health
From Edith Cowan University (Australia): “Researchers examined data from more than 50,000 people taking part in the Danish Diet, Cancer, and Health study over a 23-year period. […] The research found that people who eat a diet rich in vitamin K have up to a 34 percent lower risk of atherosclerosis-related cardiovascular disease. …] There are two types of vitamin K found in foods we eat: vitamin K1 comes primarily from green leafy vegetables and vegetable oils while vitamin K2 is found in meat, eggs and fermented foods such as cheese.”
Weight-loss drug targets fat that can endanger heart health
From University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center: “Researchers have announced successful results of a clinical trial for a commonly prescribed weight-loss drug called liraglutide. In adults who are overweight or have obesity combined with high cardiovascular risk, once-daily liraglutide combined with lifestyle interventions significantly lowered two types of fat that have been associated with risk to heart health: visceral fat and ectopic fat.
Minor Calorie cut plus exercise improves heart health
From The American Heart Association: “Among older adults with obesity, combining aerobic exercise with moderate reductions in total daily calories led to greater improvements in vascular health compared to exercise alone. Reducing calorie intake by approximately 250 calories per day may lead to significant weight loss and improve vascular health in older adults with obesity.”
‘Southern diet’ may raise risk of sudden cardiac death
From The American Heart Association: “Participants in a large-scale study who more commonly consumed a Southern-style diet – high in added fats, fried foods, processed meats and sugary drinks – had a higher risk of sudden cardiac death than people who had lower adherence to a Southern-style diet. […] The study examined data from more than 21,000 people ages 45 and older enrolled in an ongoing national research project called REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS).”
Food for thought…
There’s lots of ‘food for thought’ in these studies. The big news is that vitamin K has an important role in promoting heart health. And even a minor reduction in daily Calorie intake – combined with aerobic exercise – can improve heart health, even in older folks with obesity.
I included the AHA study on folks who adhered to the so-called ‘Southern Diet’ as further evidence that a diet, “high in added fats, fried foods, processed meats and sugary drinks,” was bad for heart health. We’ve known that for a long time now, but it’s a fact that needs reiterating regularly to make its point with the general population.
I was not surprised by the emphasis more than one of the studies placed on eating more plant-based foods. And I was intrigued specifically by the mention of the ‘Portfolio Diet’, an eating regimen I had not heard of before. I’m looking into it as a topic for a future post.
Overall, the recent studies on various aspects of diet and heart health we’ve surveyed today basically confirm contemporary wisdom and add some new wrinkles to our understanding of the issue.
~ Maggie J.