The six essential foods to lower cardiovascular disease risk – Study

01 September 2023

A study conducted by McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences researchers at the Population Research Health Institute (PHRI) and published in the European Heart Journal found that a diet including six essential healthy foods can decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adults.

The foods identified as ‘heart-friendly’ are fruits, vegetables, legumes, fish, nuts, and whole-fat dairy products. Healthy eating habits including all these foods can therefore lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes. The study also found that a healthy diet can be achieved in various ways, for instance including moderate amounts of other foods, such as whole grains.

Researchers analysed data from six international studies that included 245,000 participants – with and without prior cardiovascular disease – from 80 countries. They used a diet score from the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiological (PURE) study, an ongoing research run by the Population Research Health Institute.