Protecting Your Heart with Proper Nutrition
For people with heart disease, following a healthy eating plan is critical. Studies have shown that eating certain foods, particularly those rich in saturated and/or trans fats and red meat, can contribute to the incidence of heart disease.100 At the same time, however, there is evidence that the consumption of certain plant foods, such as spinach, broccoli, kale, Swiss chard and other vegetables, can help prevent plaque build-up in arteries.101
There also is substantial evidence that dietary patterns contribute to a significantly lower incidence of heart disease. For example, a study conducted in 2000, revealed that men who followed eating plans rich in vegetables, grains, fruits, beans and fish, had a much lower rate of heart disease than men who favored eating plans rich in red meat, processed meat, refined grains and other foods high in saturated fat.102
A similar study showed the protective effects of the so-called Mediterranean Diet. In the study, male and female heart attack survivors were divided into two groups and assigned to different eating plans, one was the standard low-fat plan and the other was a Mediterranean-style plan featuring ample amounts of bread, pasta, olive oil, fresh vegetables, fruits, beans, limited amounts of red meat, moderate amounts of fish and poultry and wine with meals. The study found that the positive impact of the Mediterranean Diet lasted for up to four years after the first heart attack.103
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