Doctor recommends heart-healthy diet
What diet is good for the heart and blood vessels (photo: Freepik)
The health of the heart and blood vessels is highly dependent on our diet. The more fatty and unhealthy food it contains, the more cholesterol builds up in the blood vessels, leading to many diseases.
Regarding which diet is beneficial for heart and vascular health, dietitian Oleg Shvets reports on Facebook.
Which diet is very useful for the heart and blood vessels
"There is growing evidence that a vegan diet may offer potential benefits for the cardiovascular system due to increased consumption of plant-based dietary fibers and other protective nutrients found in vegetables, legumes, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and seeds," a doctor states.
Scientists decided to compare the impact of a healthy vegan diet with a healthy, balanced omnivorous diet on cardio-metabolic risk indicators. In a randomized clinical study conducted in the United States in 2022, 22 healthy adult pairs of identical twins participated. Of them, 77% were women, with an average age of 39 and a half years. One twin from each pair adhered to a vegan diet, while the other followed an omnivorous diet.
What the study's findings
"Over the course of 8 weeks, the participants' diet impact on health was compared. For the first 4 weeks, they received meals according to their respective groups through a food delivery service, and from the 5th to the 8th week, they prepared their own meals, aligning with the assigned diet," explains Shvets.
The main outcome was the difference in low-density lipoprotein concentrations. Secondary outcomes included changes in cardio-metabolic risk markers, plasma vitamin B12 levels, and body weight.
"After 8 weeks, twins on a vegan diet showed a significant average reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration, fasting insulin levels, and body weight," says the dietitian.
In this study, a healthy vegan diet led to improvements in cardio-metabolic outcomes compared to a healthy omnivorous diet. Scientists believe that doctors may consider this dietary approach as an effective alternative for their patients, taking into account the cardio-protective properties of a plant-based eating pattern.
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
