A recent study led by researchers from McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences highlights the association between inadequate consumption of six essential foods and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adults.
The study emphasizes the importance of including fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, fish, and whole-fat dairy products in one’s diet to lower the risk of CVD, including heart attacks and strokes. The research also suggests that a healthy diet can be achieved through various approaches, such as incorporating moderate amounts of whole grains or unprocessed meats.
While previous studies focused on Western countries and examined diets combining harmful ultra-processed foods with nutrient-dense ones, this global research concentrated on commonly recognized healthy foods.
According to the World Health Organization, CVD accounted for nearly 18 million deaths in 2019, representing 32% of all global deaths. Of these deaths, 85% were attributed to heart attacks and strokes. The study’s findings, published in the European Heart Journal on July 6, were based on the analysis of data from 245,000 individuals across 80 countries, combining multiple studies.
The researchers developed a diet score based on the ongoing Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiological (PURE) study conducted by the Population Research Health Institute (PHRI) at McMaster University. This score was then replicated in five independent studies to assess health outcomes in different regions worldwide among individuals with and without prior CVD.
Senior author Salim Yusuf, principal investigator of PURE, highlighted the uniqueness of this study, which included a diverse representation of high, middle, and low-income countries. The PURE Healthy Diet Score focused solely on protective, natural foods, distinguishing it from other diet scores that combined harmful and protective food categories.
Andrew Mente, the first author and PHRI scientist, emphasized the significance of moderate consumption of natural foods for disease prevention. The researchers found that consuming moderate amounts of fish, whole-fat dairy, unrefined whole grains, and unprocessed meats can lead to lower risks of CVD and mortality.
The PURE Healthy Diet Score recommends a daily intake of two to three servings of fruits and vegetables, one serving of nuts, and two servings of dairy. It also includes three to four weekly servings of legumes and two to three weekly servings of fish. Whole grains and unprocessed red meat or poultry can be substituted in moderation.
While the analysis was not funded specifically, each contributing study had its own funding and was conducted over a span of 25 years.