Is it fat or carbohydrates that are more important for heart health?

The quality of your diet matters more than focusing on specific macronutrients like fat or carbohydrates. Diets rich in nutrient-dense foods are associated with reduced heart disease risk.

How did researchers confirm the impact of diet on heart disease?

Researchers confirmed the study's findings by analyzing blood metabolites, which are objective measures that provided greater confidence in the association between diet quality and heart disease risk.

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Diet Quality Trumps Fat vs. Carbs for Heart Health

Q: What type of diets are linked to a lower risk of hardening of the arteries?

Healthy versions of low-fat and low-carbohydrate diets, emphasizing plant-based foods, whole grains, and unsaturated fats, are linked to a lower risk of coronary heart disease.

12 Feb

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Summary

Healthy low-fat and low-carb diets reduce artery hardening risk.
Diet quality, not just macronutrient balance, is key.
Metabolite analysis confirmed diet's impact on heart disease.

Diet Quality Trumps Fat vs. Carbs for Heart Health

New research indicates that both healthy low-fat and low-carbohydrate diets are associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease, commonly known as hardening of the arteries. This observational study, involving nearly 200,000 adults over more than 30 years, found that adherence to diets prioritizing plant-based foods, whole grains, and unsaturated fats was linked to better outcomes.

The study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, also revealed that diets high in refined carbohydrates and animal-based fats and proteins, regardless of their fat or carb content, increased heart disease risk. Lead author Dr. Qi Sun stressed that "It's the quality of your diet that matters," not simply the macronutrient breakdown.

Researchers further validated their findings by analyzing blood metabolites, objective markers that confirmed the link between diet quality and reduced coronary heart disease risk. This approach provided greater confidence in the results, reinforcing the understanding that nutrient-dense foods are crucial for heart health.