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A study led by researchers from McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences at the Population Research Health Institute (PHRI) found that not eating enough of six major foods in combination is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adults.
Consuming fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, fish and full-fat dairy products is key to lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes. The study also found that a healthy diet can be achieved in several ways, such as incorporating moderate amounts of whole grains or unprocessed meats.
Previous and similar research has focused on Western countries and diets that combined harmful, ultra-processed foods with nutrient-dense foods. This study was global in scope and focused on foods that are generally considered healthy.
The World Health Organization estimates that nearly 18 million people died from CVD in 2019, representing 32 percent of all global deaths. Of these deaths, 85 percent were due to heart attacks and strokes. PHRI researchers and their global collaborators analyzed data from 245,000 people in 80 countries from multiple studies. The results have been published in the European heart journal.
Researchers derived a diet score from PHRI’s ongoing, large-scale global Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiological (PURE) study, then replicated it in five independent studies to measure health outcomes in different regions of the world and in people with and without previous CVD.
“Previous diet scores, including the EAT-Lancet Planetary Diet and the Mediterranean Diet, have tested the relationship between diet and CVD and death primarily in Western countries. The PURE Healthy Diet Score included a good representation of high-, middle-, and low-income countries ,” said Salim Yusuf, senior author and principal investigator of PURE.
In addition to being truly global, the PURE Healthy Diet Score focused on exclusively protective or natural foods.
“We were unique in that focus. The other dietary scores combined foods considered harmful — such as processed and ultra-processed foods — with foods and nutrients believed to protect health,” said first author Andrew Mente, PHRI scientist and assistant. professor at McMaster’s Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact.
“There has recently been more focus on increased consumption of protective foods for disease prevention. Aside from higher amounts of fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes, the researchers showed that moderation is key when consuming natural foods,” he said.
“Moderate amounts of fish and full-fat dairy are associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. The same health outcomes can be achieved with moderate consumption of grains and meats, as long as they are unrefined whole grains and unprocessed meats.”
The PURE Healthy Diet Score recommends an average daily intake of: Fruit in two to three servings; vegetables in two to three portions; nuts in one serving; and dairy for two servings. The score also includes three to four weekly servings of legumes and two to three weekly servings of fish. Possible substitutes included whole grains at one serving per day and unprocessed red meat or poultry at one serving per day.
More information:
Andrew Mente et al, Diet quality and risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality in 244,597 people from 80 countries: four prospective cohort and two case-control studies, European heart journal (2023).
Quote: Not eating enough of these six healthy foods is linked to more cardiovascular disease and deaths worldwide (2023, July 6) Retrieved July 7, 2023 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-07-healthy- foods-higher-cardiovascular-disease.html
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