New Nutrition Research: 10 Features of a Heart-Healthy Eating Pattern – SciTechDaily

The American Heart Association has outlined 10 key features of a heart-healthy eating pattern in a new scientific statement that emphasizes the importance of overall dietary pattern rather than individual foods or nutrients and underscores the critical role of nutrition in all stages of life. These features can be adapted to accommodate individual food likes and dislikes, cultural traditions and whether most meals are consumed at home or on-the-go, according to the statement, 2021 Dietary Guidance to Improve Cardiovascular Health, published today (November 2, 2021) in the Associations flagship journal Circulation.

The new statement reflects the latest scientific evidence on the benefits of heart-healthy eating throughout life and that poor diet quality is strongly associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death. The statement emphasizes the importance of looking at the total dietary pattern rather than good or bad individual foods or nutrients. A dietary pattern refers to the balance, variety, amounts, and combination of foods and beverages regularly eaten. The statement also highlights the critical role of nutrition education, starting healthy eating early in life and maintaining throughout the lifespan, as well as societal and other challenges that may make it harder to adopt or maintain a heart-healthy diet pattern.

We can all benefit from a heart-healthy dietary pattern regardless of stage of life, and it is possible to design one that is consistent with personal preferences, lifestyles and cultural customs. It does not need to be complicated, time consuming, expensive or unappealing, said Chair of the scientific statement writing group Alice H. Lichtenstein, D.Sc., FAHA, senior scientist and director of the Cardiovascular Nutrition Team at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston.

Because food is often eaten in places besides the home, the statement emphasizes that it is possible to follow a heart-healthy dietary pattern regardless of whether food is prepared at home,ordered in a restaurantor online, or purchased as a prepared meal.

You can absolutely adapt a heart-healthy diet to different lifestyles, said Lichtenstein, who is also the Stanley N. Gershoff Professor of Nutrition Science and Policy at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, including one that incorporates eating out at restaurants. It might take a little planning, however, after the first few times it can become routine.

The statement details 10 features of adietary patternto promote heart health:

Processed foodsinclude meats that are preserved by smoking, curing or adding chemical preservatives, and plant-based foods that have added salt, sugar or fats. Many processed meats are high in salt, saturated fat and cholesterol. Research shows that replacing processed meat with other protein sources is associated with lower death rates. Ultra-processed foods are those that go beyond added salt, sweeteners or fat to also include artificial colors, flavors and preservatives that promote shelf stability, preserve texture and increase palatability.

A heart-healthy diet is good for a lifetime.

Nutrition plays a critical role in heart health throughout life, according to the statement. A heart-healthy diet and healthy lifestyle behaviors such as regular physical activity and avoiding exposure to tobacco products are key from childhood throughout adulthood to lower the risk of developing elevated bad cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, obesity, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, each of which can increase heart disease risk.

Before and during pregnancy, women who eat a heart-healthy diet can reduce heart disease risk factors, which may help to prevent unhealthy weight gain in their children. Evidence shows that the prevention of childhood obesity is key to preserving and prolonging heart health through the life span. Later in life, people who eat a heart-healthy diet have slower age-related declines in thinking abilities and memory.

The evidence indicates that people of all ages can benefit from sticking to the principles of a heart-healthy dietary pattern, said Lichtenstein. Likewise, it is important to educate children at all ages so as they transition into adulthood, they will be able to make informed decisions about what they eat and serve as positive role models for generations to come.

A heart-healthy diet can also help the environment.

For the first time, the issue of sustainability is included in the Associations dietary guidance. Commonly consumed animal products, particularly red meat (beef, lamb, pork, veal, venison or goat), have the largest environmental impact in terms of water and land usage, and contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Hence, shifting reliance from meat to plant proteins can help to improve individual health and the environment.

It is important to recognize that the guidance is consistent not only with heart health but also sustainability it is a win-win for individuals and our environment, said Lichtenstein.

However, the statement notes, not all sustainable diets are heart healthy. For example, if a plant-based diet includes lots of refined carbohydrates and added sugars, the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease increases.

Societal challenges are needed to support heart-healthy eating.

For the first time, the 2021 dietary guidance discusses several challenges that can make it harder to adopt or maintain a heart-healthy diet. These include:

Public health action and policy changes are required to address these challenges and barriers, according to the statement.

Creating an environment that promotes and supports adherence to heart-healthy dietary patterns among all individuals is a public health imperative, the statement concludes.

On an individual level, the new statement reinforces a2020 American Heart Association statement for health care professionalsthat encouraged routine assessment of patients dietary quality and inclusion of this information in the medical record so there is follow-up at the next appointment.

Reference: 2 November 2021, Circulation. DOI: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000001031

This scientific statement was prepared by the volunteer writing group on behalf of the American Heart Associations Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health; the Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology; the Council on Cardiovascular Radiology and Intervention; the Council on Clinical Cardiology; and the Stroke Council.

Co-authors are Vice Chair Lawrence J. Appel, M.D., M.P.H., FAHA; Vice-Chair Maya Vadiveloo, Ph.D., R.D., FAHA; Frank B. Hu, M.D., Ph.D., FAHA; Penny M. Kris-Etherton, Ph.D., R.D., FAHA; Casey M. Rebholz, Ph.D., M.S., M.N.S.P., M.P.H., FAHA; Frank M. Sacks, M.D., FAHA; Anne N. Thorndike, M.D., M.P.H., FAHA; Linda Van Horn, Ph.D., R.D., FAHA; and Judith Wylie-Rosett, Ph.D., R.D., FAHA. Authors disclosures are listed in the manuscript.

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New Nutrition Research: 10 Features of a Heart-Healthy Eating Pattern - SciTechDaily