Research since 1950: Vegetables, nuts, "Mediterranean" diet are heart-friendly

[steven johnson]

What we know based on an analysis of nearly 200 studies that diets of vegetables, nuts and the Mediterranean diet are "good" heart foods whereas "bad" foods included starchy carbs like white bread , the trans fats in many cookies and french fries.

Vegetables, nuts and the so-called "Mediterranean" diet are heart-friendly, while trans fats and foods with a high glycemic index can harm your heart, say researchers who reviewed 189 studies published between 1950 and 2007.

The researchers also found modest evidence of a causal relationship between heart health and several other foods and vitamins, such as fish, omega-3 fatty acids from marine sources, folate, whole grains, alcohol, fruits, fiber, dietary vitamins E and C and beta carotene. There was weak evidence of a causal relationship between heart health and vitamin E and C in supplement form, saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids and total fats, alpha-linoleic acid, meat, eggs and milk.



Study gathers best science on heart-healthy foods

[Liberal Veteran]

1. I eat about a can of nuts (almonds, cashews) once a day.

[rucky]

2. that can be an expensive habit

but also my snack of preference.

Every year the Trophy Nut company has a warehouse sale - dollar cans!

[Liberal Veteran]

3. I'm partial to Wasabi flavored almonds.

[trotsky]

8. Ooh, you referring to those Blue Diamond wasabi-soy ones?

Damn those are addictive. I buy those and the smoked almonds in the mega-pack at Costco.

[Dorian Gray]

10. I love them, too

I eat about 15 almonds a day. (They are high in calories, and 15 is about 90-100 cals.)

The Wasabi and the Smokehouse are my two favorites.

[truedelphi]

4. Sadly, people have been convinced for some time that

Nuts are high in fats, and so they are avoided. And when consumed,often they are the Brand name qualities with lots of salt and added oil to give them the "roasted" moniker.

[Quantess]

6. Nuts ARE high in fat. And some nuts are healthier than others.

Almonds are really good for you, and are also lower in fat than most other nuts. Pistachios are also low in fat. Cashews and macadamias are loaded with fat, and unless you don't mind weight gain, it's probably a good idea to eat them sparingly.

I like raw almonds and dried cranberries combined in the same bite. :9

[hedgehog]

5. How do we know that all these good results come from the

Mediterranean diet and not form the Mediterranean sunshine? Mediterranean siestas? Mediterranean genes?

[HamdenRice]

7. Many diet studies are done with transplanted populations

or people who eat the Mediterranean diet in other places. I remember the studies of the Japanese diet focused on first generation Japanese in America in order to avoid the effects of geographic factors.

Many of the studies of the Med diet are of people who eat that diet but live in North America.

[RagAss]

9. Not to mention the Vino !