A new study finds that eating a vegetarian or pescatarian diet slashes the risk of heart failure by almost half.
According to the study, those who swap processed meats and fatty foods for a mostly plant-based diet are 42 per cent less likely to develop heart failure.
The diet should include whole grains, fish, beans, and dark green leafy plants lead to a heart-healthy lifestyle, scientists from Icahn School of Medicine in New York said.
However, according to him, the foods to
Foods to avoid include refined carbohydrates, foods high in added sugars, trans fats, saturated fats and processed meats.
In a study conducted by Dr Kyla Lara experts examined five diets which ranged from red meats, to plant based food, sweets and alcohol over four years.
Foods such as eggs, fried food, offal, alcohol and salads were not associated with a decreased risk for heart failure.
The team used data collected for the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke, an observational study of risk factors for stroke in adults aged 45 and older.
Participants reported their diets using a food frequency questionnaire keeping track of what they ate from five dietary patterns and these were defined as convenience consisting of red meats, pastas, fried potatoes, fast foods, plant-based consisting of dark, leafy vegetables, fruits, beans, fish, sweets consisting of desserts, breads, sweet breakfast foods, chocolate, candy, southern consisting of eggs, fried food, organ meats, processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages and alcohol/salads consisting of salad dressings, green, leafy vegetables, tomatoes, wine, butter, liquor.
Of the five dietary patterns, greater adherence to the plant-based diet had the strongest association with a decreased risk of incident heart failure
According to Dr Lara, eating a diet mostly of dark green leafy plants, fruits, beans, whole grains and fish, while limiting processed meats, saturated fats, trans fats, refined carbohydrates and foods high in added sugars is a heart-healthy lifestyle and may specifically help prevent heart failure.
The study was presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions conference in Anaheim, California.
