Eat more veggies, fish, and fruit — it helps your heart even if you already have heart disease
Dietary patterns and the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in a global study of high-risk patients with stable coronary heart disease
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Western diet patterns showed no significant link to increased heart events.
For decades, public health messaging has blamed processed foods, sugar, and fried foods for heart disease. This study says, in high-risk patients, avoiding them didn’t matter as much as adding healthy foods.
Practical Takeaways
Add one serving of fish per week, eat fruits/vegetables daily, and have 1 glass of wine (women) or 2 (men) most days.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Western diet patterns showed no significant link to increased heart events.
For decades, public health messaging has blamed processed foods, sugar, and fried foods for heart disease. This study says, in high-risk patients, avoiding them didn’t matter as much as adding healthy foods.
Practical Takeaways
Add one serving of fish per week, eat fruits/vegetables daily, and have 1 glass of wine (women) or 2 (men) most days.
Publication
Journal
European Heart Journal
Year
2016
Authors
R. Stewart, L. Wallentin, J. Benatar, N. Danchin, E. Hagström, C. Held, S. Husted, E. Lonn, A. Stebbins, K. Chiswell, O. Vedin, David Watson, H. White
Related Content
Claims (5)
If people with heart disease eat more like a Mediterranean diet—lots of fruits, veggies, fish, whole grains, and a little alcohol—they’re slightly less likely to have serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes.
Eating healthy foods like vegetables, fruits, nuts, and whole grains—no matter if you're eating fewer carbs or less fat—may lower your risk of heart disease by about 13–15% and help keep your blood fats and inflammation in check.
Eating lots of typical Western junk food — like fries, soda, and sweets — doesn’t seem to make heart problems worse for people who already have stable heart disease, even when you account for things like age, smoking, and exercise.
People with heart disease who eat more fruits, veggies, fish, and a little alcohol each week tend to have fewer serious heart problems — and even small improvements in these habits might help.
People who eat like Mediterraneans—lots of veggies, olive oil, fish, and nuts—tend to have fewer heart problems, no matter where they live or how much money they make, so this way of eating might help heart patients everywhere.