New dietary recommendations from the American Heart Association for cardio-metabolic health

Mar 04, 2022
Sébastien Bouley

This review of the scientific literature aims to bring together the available evidence relating to diet and cardiovascular health to provide knowledge-based advice on the key components of diets to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This article suggests the adoption of population-wide dietary advice.

  • Critical Role of Nutrition Early in Life and Throughout the Life Span

Nutrition-related chronic diseases are prevalent over the life course, with growing evidence of maternal-fetal nutritional origins. Excess gestational weight gain, especially among women who experience overweight or obesity at conception, can lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes, subclinical CVD and CVD risk factors in mothers, and an increased risk for pediatric obesity in the offspring. There is well-documented evidence that the prevention of pediatric obesity is key to preserving and prolonging ideal cardiovascular health. Maintaining healthy eating and lifestyle behaviors from birth and throughout life is essential to reduce cardio-metabolic risk factors such as obesity, high blood pressure and metabolic syndrome.

  • Evidence-Based Guidance on Dietary Patterns to Promote Cardiometabolic Health

Feature 1: Adjust energy intake and expenditure to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight,

Feature 2: Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, choose a wide variety,

Feature 3: Choose foods made mostly with whole grains rather than refined grains,

Feature 4: Choose healthy sources of protein,

Feature 5: Use liquid plant oils rather than tropical oils (coconut, palm and palm kernel), animal fats (butter and lard) and partially hydrogenated fats,

Feature 6: Choose minimally porcessed foods instead of ultra-processed foods,

Feature 7: Minimize intake of beverages and foods with added sugars,

Feature 8: Choose and prepare foods with little or no salt,

Feature 9: If You do not drink alcohol, don’t start; If you choose to drink alcohol, limit intake,

Feature 10: Adhere to this guidance regardless of wherever food is prepared or consumed.

 

To know more, you can consult the scientific statement from the American Heart Association.

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