Diet & Fitness Blog
Breaking News: Diet Found to Reduce Heart Attacks
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By Glenn Mueller
eDiets Senior Writer/Editor
According to the results of a recent study, following a diet that is high in fruits and vegetables and low in fat really does protect your heart. If you are following a meal plan like this, you'll love the latest breaking headlines: You may be less likely to have a heart attack or stroke.
A report published in the April 14th issue of Archives of Internal Medicine provides compelling evidence that sticking to a meal plan similar to the one the government already recommends for lowering blood pressure can help reduce your risk for having a heart attack or stroke. The team of researchers, led by Teresa T. Fung, Sc.D., of Simmons College in Boston, monitored more than 88,000 healthy women between the ages of 34 and 59 for almost 25 years. Subjects kept track of the foods they ate during that time period and were given scores based on how closely their eating habits resembled the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) meal plan recommended by the government.
The so-called DASH scores increased for fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes and low-fat dairy products. Points were subtracted from the scores for red and processed meats, sweetened beverages and sodium. Ultimately, the women with the highest DASH scores were found to be 24 percent less likely to develop heart disease and 18 percent less likely to have a stroke.
Though Fung's study tracked women and their eating habits rather than randomly assigning different diets to members of the sampling population, the research findings may provide the best evidence yet of the benefits of so-called heart friendly diets due to the size of the sampling population. According to statistics from the American Heart Association, heart disease kills 32 percent of our nation's female population -- making it the leading cause of death for American women. And, as if those numbers aren’t alarming enough, the fact is 8 million women are currently living with heart disease.
"This study helps to reinforce how important it is to avoid saturated fats, lower sodium intake, and keep our blood glucose levels in check," says eDiets Director of Nutrition Services Pam Ofstein. "Following such a meal plan can help prevent many health problems, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease."
Pam notes that the eDiets Heart Smart plan resembles the DASH diet and includes whole grains, poultry, fish and nuts. All the meals are low in fat and saturated fat but include healthy monounsaturated fat in olive oil and small servings of nuts and avocado.
"These research findings help members of the public see that making small changes over your lifespan can improve your health," Pam says.
Comment by 
said... - Wednesday, April 16, 2008 10:19:00 AM
Here is what I know. My Mother passed away..overweight at 96, one aunt at 98, the other at 94.
The last mentioned never ate a fruit or vegies, still cooked with LARD.
The oldest ate some "good food," but not enough to tell a story. my mother liked fruit & veg. only ate some once, or twice a month. All ate super amounts of grease. All, to include me, survived a concentration camp.
My mom & our son passed away in 06.
Mom 96, son 42. I am 64.
This "food thing" is starting to aggravate me. It makes it look like Americans ( grown people ) do not know what to eat, it's degrading.
Since my mom, and son passed, I knew excacly what "crap" I was eating, and how it felt gaining weight.
Surelly most folks know what goes into their mouths?
Comment by Tonie said... - Wednesday, April 16, 2008 10:21:00 AM
It is fantastic news and I would highly recommend such a balanced diet, especially when you get rid of the refined carbs that seems to be a major culprit.
Ciao, Tonie
Comment by said... - Thursday, April 17, 2008 9:40:00 AM
Because our live styles and the types of processed foods have changed from the previous generations, it has created an increase in obesity both in adults and children. We cannot deny the fact that we don't eat as healthy as we should and we certainly do not always have the time to cook long hours before the stove. Access to healthy foods out there are not as readily available as so called "junk" fast foods. Convenience verses health, one is bound to suffer and that has created a generation of bad eating habits. Of course we know what is healthy and what is not, it does not mean that we ALL have access to it. Just remember it is never to late to modify our eating habits.
Comment by said... - Thursday, April 17, 2008 12:33:00 PM
I am 59 and danced, exercise and owned a fitness business for over 20 years. I always ate right including lots of veggies and fruits. One year ago I had angioplasty with two stents. I was shocked! The Doctor said it was in my genes. Following a low fat diet is GREAT but family history must be
recognized too!
Comment by 
musicbutterfly said... - Friday, April 18, 2008 7:32:00 PM
I think it is great that Americans are becoming more aware of what they put in their bodies. In addition to knowing what to eat, I would recommend a little attention on the "when" as well. Foods in relation to eachother are not as often discussed, but can make a big difference in how we feel. More here
Comment by said... - Tuesday, April 22, 2008 8:34:00 PM
I agree with the post that mentioned that our food has changed. I think that something like this happened: In WWII, our government wanted agriculture to become more mechanized so fewer farm workers would be needed on the farm. After WWII, the policy continued, and these ex-farm workers worked in the auto industry and other key industries in the post war economic boom. In those years, processing foods in "clever" ways to "improve" taste, convienience, and appearance, as well as to enhance economy for the food industry, became an art form. This mechanization, along with really flawed use of pesticides and fertilizers and over-processing of food (incidentally, ridding it of key nutrients) leads the industry and us to where we are today. Finally (and groggily) many of us see the light....
Comment by said... - Sunday, April 27, 2008 2:07:00 PM
I think this dietary plan is very good but not always available. I do agree it can be genetic to have heart problems. But I also think moderation is important, too. I have to admit, it is tempting to overeat. I thank you for emailing info on the latest facts and figures. Being obese is no fun, depressing and dangerous. Most of my relatives died too early in life due to diabetes, heart or cancer. Bad habits like smoking or drinking can contribute to the problem of cardiac or lung disease. Of course, when these diseases take hold, then health suffers. I prefer to think that everyone could seek out natural cures and start cooking for themselves. That would be a good thing to consider. I hope that the food does not get too scarce. Should everyone garden? I think more of this science should go into the schools so that everyone could learn to be more self sufficient.
Comment by said... - Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:36:00 PM
its good people are starting to see how unhealthy meat is, not to mention its completly un natural to humans since our anatomy is strictly herbivorous. I could list 18 major diseases it has been linked to. People dont seem to know much about what they eat because barely anyone researches it beyond what they stumble across.How can you attempt to justify eating lard?
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