- An American Heart Association report analyzed 10 popular dietary patterns, ranking them for heart health.
- The DASH and Mediterranean diets scored high on the list while the keto and paleo plans scored poorly.
- In general, nutritionists and dietitians recommend a diet high in whole grains, non-starchy vegetables, and lean meat and fish while avoiding saturated fats, refined sugars, and processed foods.
- They say it’s healthier in the long run to find a sustainable diet pattern rather than a “quick fix” crash diet.
An analysis from the American Heart Association (AHA) has taken a close look and ranked some of today’s most popular dietary patterns.
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Christopher Gardner, PhD, the chair of the writing committee for the statement and a professor of medicine at Stanford University in California, told Medical News Today that the statement is intended to provide guidance not just for people looking to change up their eating habits but physicians as well.
“We thought this paper would be practical for clinicians and medical doctors, as they don’t necessarily get much nutrition training,” Gardner explained. “We have a whole section explaining questions a doctor might want to ask a patient, including common misunderstandings that can be cleared up.”
In line with the AHA’s recommendations, the research assesses diets for heart health, specifically rating dietary patterns for their impact on cardiometabolic health.
The highest-rated eating plans included DASH-style diets, which are low in salt, added sugar, alcohol and processed foods with an emphasis on whole grains, legumes, fruit and veggies. Meat can be part of a DASH-style diet, but lean meats and seafood are generally recommended.
Mediterranean-style diets are similar, but allow for alcohol consumption and don’t address saturated…
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