Introduction
A new study suggests that plant-based foods may reduce the risk of mortality from heart failure. The study, which was published in the journal Circulation, found that people who ate a diet rich in plant-based foods had a lower risk of death from heart failure than those who ate a diet that was higher in animal-based foods. The study also found that people who ate a diet that was higher in plant-based foods had a lower risk of developing heart failure in the first place. These findings suggest that eating a diet that is rich in plant-based foods may be beneficial for reducing the risk of heart failure and mortality from heart failure.
Plant-Based Foods May Reduce HF Mortality, Study Suggests
A new study suggests that eating a plant-based diet may reduce the risk of death from heart failure. The study, published in the journal Circulation, looked at the diets of more than 4,000 people with heart failure and found that those who ate a plant-based diet had a lower risk of death from heart failure than those who ate a diet that included animal products.
The study found that people who ate a plant-based diet had a 32% lower risk of death from heart failure than those who ate a diet that included animal products. The researchers also found that those who ate a plant-based diet had a lower risk of death from any cause, including cancer and stroke.
The researchers believe that the protective effect of a plant-based diet may be due to the fact that plant-based foods are rich in antioxidants, fiber, and other nutrients that can help protect the heart. They also suggest that plant-based diets may help reduce inflammation, which is a risk factor for heart failure.
The study is the first to look at the effect of a plant-based diet on heart failure mortality. While the findings are encouraging, the researchers caution that more research is needed to confirm their results.
If you are considering making changes to your diet, it is important to talk to your doctor first. Eating a healthy diet is an important part of managing heart failure, and your doctor can help you make the best choices for your health.
Almost half of all American adults reportedly face cardiovascular disease, according to the American Heart Association. Furthermore, the CDC notes that heart disease is the primary cause of death in the United States. Given these grim statistics, being proactive with respect to your heart health can literally be a matter of life and death.
Whether you’ve been diagnosed with a cardiovascular condition or just have general concerns about maintaining your heart health, there are scientifically proven steps you can take steps to help live longer, including being more mindful of what you eat. Recent research suggests that the inclusion of more plant-based foods into your diet, particularly those rich in omega-3 fatty acids, might be the key to increasing longevity for those with cardiovascular issues.
In an analysis that was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Aleix Sala-Vila, Ph.D., of the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute in Barcelona, and their colleagues took a look at data that had been collected from 905 people who were a mean age of 67 years old. All were heart failure patients whose cardiovascular issues stemmed from various causes. Those behind the study also noted the patients’ levels of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is an omega-3 fatty acid that can be found in plant-based foods.
A follow-up was done with the patients a median of 2.4 years later. In that time, 140 patients had died of all-cause deaths while 85 passed away due to cardiovascular-related deaths. When the researchers compared patients with the highest and lowest levels of ALA, they found that those with higher levels had a lower risk of a first hospitalization due to heart failure, cardiovascular death, and all-cause death.
“[I]nclusion of some ALA-rich foods, such as walnuts, in the diet of any individual, whether they have HF or not, might translate into [cardiovascular] benefits, besides the putative effect on [heart failure],” Sala-Vila said, according to Medscape.
“Any one of us can improve our diet at any time, and [doing so] will translate to a healthy aging,” Sala-Vila reportedly told TCTMD.
“While this study is observational, it’s another study in the growing body of research pointing to a positive relationship between omega-3 fatty acids and prevention or management of disease,” Blair Persyn, MS, RDN, LDN, CNSC, a registered dietitian and owner of Bites With Blair, LLC, tells Eat This, Not That!
“ALA and omega-3 fatty acids may help prevent and manage heart disease through their effect on inflammation,” Persyn says. “We know there is an inflammatory component to heart disease and other chronic illnesses.”
“Nuts and seeds like walnuts, hemp seeds, chia seeds, and flax seeds contain not only plant-based omega-3 fatty acids but also antioxidants, both of which help combat inflammation,” Persyn adds.
As for getting more ALA into your system, Persyn claims that “adding more nuts and seeds to our diets can be as easy as sprinkling them on oatmeal, topping them onto salads, blending them into smoothies, or using them as a nut butter on sandwiches.”
Desirée O