A diet can decrease my risk of heart attack and stroke? You bet!

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Through studies like the Nurses' Health Study and the Lyon Diet Heart Study, the importance of a healthy dietary pattern has been linked to a reduction in heart attacks and strokes.

Want to take a guess at what the diet is?
a. Atkins
b. South Beach
c. Mediterranean
d. Typical American
 
Wrong Answers:
a. Atkins: a low-carbohydrate diet, high in protein and fats. A healthy diet should have no more than 30% fat - here you can easily consume more than this.
b. South Beach: a better diet that focuses on balancing the "good" carbs against the "bad" carbs. I am unable to find any research on its effects related to heart attack or stroke
d. American: or a Western diet, is usually high in red meat, sugary desserts and drinks, fat, and refined grains. Not enough fruits and vegetables
 
So what is the right answer: the Mediterranean diet
A Mediterranean dietary pattern has these characteristics:
•high consumption of fruits, vegetables, bread and other cereals, potatoes, beans, nuts and seeds
•olive oil is an important monounsaturated fat source
•dairy products, fish and poultry are consumed in low to moderate amounts, and little red meat is eaten
•eggs are consumed zero to four times a week
•wine is consumed in low to moderate amounts
 
The conclusion of the Nurses’ Health Study states that a greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease and stroke in women. The Lyon Diet Heart Study results suggest that a Mediterranean-type diet may help reduce recurrent events in patients with heart disease.
 
The incidence of heart disease in Mediterranean countries is lower than in the United States. Their death rates are lower, too. We can’t be sure that this is all due to the diet, since other lifestyle factors (such as more physical activity and extended social support systems) may also play a part.
 
See the American Heart Association links on Mediterranean Diet, Lyon Diet Heart Study, and AHA 2006 Diet & Lifestyle Recommendations 
 
 
other references:
Mediterranean Diet and Incidence of Mortality from Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke in Women http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/119/8/1093
 

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