Cardiovascular disease is the world’s leading cause of death. While physical activity and quitting smoking can help prevent the risks, other lifestyle habits can also play a part. Such is the case with diet.
What to eat to avoid the risk of cardiovascular disease? Researchers have compared the effects of 3 diets on cardiovascular risk. Find out which were the most effective.
Researchers compare the effects of 3 diets on cardiovascular risk
In a recent study, researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) compared the effects of three diets on cardiovascular risk:
- The DASH diet (« Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension »): this diet consists mainly of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and low-fat dairy products.
- The Western diet: high in fat and sodium and low in fruit and vegetables.
- A diet rich in fruit and vegetables.
To compare the effects of the three diets, the researchers used data from the original DASH trial involving 459 adults aged 22 to 75. Participants were divided into 3 groups: each had to follow one of the diets for 8 weeks.
Two of the three diets reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease by 10%.
According to results published in the specialist journal American Journal of Cardiology, the DASH diet and the diet rich in fruit and vegetables reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease by an average of around 10%, compared with the Western diet.
Furthermore, the scientists found that the benefits associated with these diets against cardiovascular disease varied according to the profile of the participants.
» While a diet rich in fruits and vegetables reduced the risk for women and black participants, the effect of the DASH diet was twice as great for women and four times greater for black adults, compared to other participants, » explains Stephen P. Jurashcek, co-author of the study.