The key to a healthy life lies in having a healthy heart. The path to enhancing and preserving heart health is through nutritious food. A nine-year research study involving 63,000 individuals was conducted in France. The study, published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, revealed the foods beneficial for heart health.
So, let's see how we should eat to protect our heart health and what foods we should consume?
According to The Independent, 63,835 adults in France were monitored over a period of 9 years (median value). Researchers from INRAE, INSERM, Sorbonne Paris Nord University, and CNAM suggest that their findings indicate whether a plant-based diet benefits heart health is determined both by the quality of the nutrients and the level of industrial processing. The detailed results of the study suggest that those who consume more fresh and minimally processed plant-based foods have a significantly lower risk of heart disease.
The study reveals that participants who have a diet richer in 'whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes' have a '44 percent' lower risk of cardiovascular disease compared to participants who consume these foods less frequently.
This research conducted in France is seen as one of the most detailed studies to date on how the quality of nutrition affects cardiovascular health. There are many notable details in the research findings.
For instance, the study shows that a '10%' increase in the consumption of unprocessed plant-based foods in the diet can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by '10%', while a similar increase in overly processed animal foods can raise the risk by 24%.
Another study published by Cambridge University reveals that consuming more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and reducing red meat and sugary drinks can potentially lower the risk of type 2 diabetes.