THE cardiovascular illnesses are the leading cause of death worldwide according to the World Health Organization. They bring together a set of frequent and serious diseases, such as myocardial infarctions, cerebrovascular accidents (CVA), heart failure, peripheral vascular diseases, or even hypertensive diseases. Many modifiable habits expose you to a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, but also diet. To take care of your heart health, adopting a healthy diet is therefore essential.
In order to determine which diet is most favorable for a healthy heart, American experts delivered in the magazine U.S. News & World Report, their ranking of the best diets to adopt, among 30 options. They determined the most suitable diet in 2024 to reduce the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, such as blood pressure or cholesterol levels. Experts have classified diets including “of the heart healthy foodssuch as whole fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat sources of protein”.
The best diet to take care of your heart is the Mediterranean diet
What is the best diet to protect your heart health, according to American experts? It’s about Mediterranean diet, also considered the best diet in general. Indeed, this eating method has numerous health benefits and has a positive influence on cardiovascular risk. As recalled by Alexandra Retion, dietician and co-author of the book Cretan diet, the secrets of longevity (ed. Hachette Cuisine) in the columns of Current wife Alexandra Retion, “what characterizes this model is its richness in plants (fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole grains, oilseeds) which are full of protective nutrients”. The Mediterranean diet is therefore a diet of first choice for taking care of your heart and your health in general.
The top 10 diets to protect your heart health in 2024
But the Mediterranean diet is not the only heart-healthy diet cited by American experts. Here is the ten best diets to adopt to protect your heart health :
- The Mediterranean diet
- The DASH diet
- The Ornish Diet
- The vegan diet
- The MIND diet
- The flexitarian diet
- The TLC diet
- The Mayo Clinic Diet
- Dr. Weil’s anti-inflammatory diet
- The Pritikin diet
Sources:
- Best Heart-Healthy Diets 2024 – US News & World Report – January 1, 2024
- Cardiovascular diseases – World Health Organization