Simple food swaps can be more powerful than statins for heart patients
Here’s some good news that anyone with heart disease needs to hear about right away.
If you want to live longer, you’d be better off ditching the statins and adding more good fats, veggies and fish to your meals.
Sure, we’ve heard lots of good news about how this kind of eating — the Mediterranean diet — can keep us healthy. But for the first time researchers looked at how these food choices can benefit those already suffering from cardiovascular disease.
And what they found is being called “more powerful than any drug.”
Professor Giovanni de Gaetano is as excited as a kid in a candy store when he talks about the findings of his new study.
And when you hear about it, you might be, too!
The research he just presented at the European Society of Cardiology conference found that heart patients who stuck the closest to a Mediterranean diet were able to lower their risk of death — from any cause — by almost 40 percent.
That’s around double the survival rate that even the most die-hard statin pushers are tossing around. And, of course, without any of the long list of side effects associated with those drugs.
In fact, Professor de Gaetano was so enthused with his findings he proposed that health officials should even pay for some of the foods that make up a Mediterranean diet. “The National Health Service pays for drugs, but it doesn’t pay for vegetables,” he said.
This way of eating had such a powerful effect on the health of those with heart disease that doctors should think about “diet before drugs,” he advised.
And to realize just how compelling these findings are, the 1,200 people who took part in this research came from a much larger study, one funded by Pfizer, the company that makes Lipitor!
So what is it about this kind of diet that produces such remarkable health benefits?
Experts believe that foods such as olive oil, vegetables, fish and nuts have “powerful anti-inflammatory effects.” And that makes a lot of sense, as chronic inflammation is now thought to be behind the development of illnesses such as cancer, heart disease and even depression.
Professor de Gaetano plans to do further research on his findings. But I’m sure that he’s not waiting for those results before enjoying a glass of wine in the evening or having extra olive oil on his veggies — and neither should you.
So here’s what you need to know right now about how some easy food swaps may make all the difference in your health, especially if you’re already struggling with heart disease.
The basic Mediterranean diet is more about eating habits than following a recipe book. Simply put, these are the foods you want more of on your plate:
- Fish — aim for up to four servings a week,
- Beans or lentils — at least once a week,
- Fruits and vegetables every day — the more the better!
- Good fats, such as olive oil, butter and nuts like almonds and walnuts.
Foods you want to eat less of include sweets, processed foods, especially hot dogs and luncheon meats. You also should limit your intake of things like red meat and milk to small amounts.
And if you already enjoy a glass of wine or beer with dinner, that’s another way to score more points on a Mediterranean diet!
Despite what Professor de Gaetano said, I seriously doubt that we’ll ever have a health insurance plan that will pay for carrots, broccoli or olive oil. And certainly not for a bottle of wine!
But with results as good (and delicious!) as this, there’s no reason not to start incorporating more of these foods into your daily diet right now.
Sources:
“Mediterranean diet better than statins at combatting heart disease, study says” Shehab Khan, August 29, 2016, Independent, independent.co.uk
