Diet and heart disease
4354846
219911016
2008-06-17T12:33:53Z
Dddstone
344062
AHA-1 Diet is obsolete
{{Weasel}}
[[Diet_(nutrition)|Diet]] is a major contributing factor to the presence (or lack thereof) of [[heart disease]], an umbrella term describing many heart ailments.
For example, a diet high in cholesterol may lead to [[coronary heart disease]], a condition in which a buildup of plaque occurs in the arteries near the heart. A diet of less than 300mg of cholesterol is recommended by the American Heart Association. This reduced level of cholesterol means less buildup of plaque in the arteries near the heart, thus greatly reducing the likelihood of coronary heart disease.
The [[Framingham Heart Study]] addressed dietary risk factors and risk reduction and is widely used for data worldwide on heart disease and its causes and preventions.<ref>[http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/97/18/1876 Primary Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease: Guidance From Framingham]</ref>
{{update}}
The [[AHA-1]] Diet is recommended by the [[American Heart Association]].<ref>[http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4764 AHA Diet]</ref> The AHA also states that [[Mediterranean diet|Mediterranean-style diets]] are often close to their dietary recommendations, but don’t follow them exactly. <ref>[http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4644 Article on Mediterranean Diets - AHA website]]</ref>
Two dietary programs developed specifically to reverse heart disease are the [[Pritikin Program|Pritikin Program for Diet and Exercise]] created by [[Nathan Pritikin]] and the [[Ornish diet|Ornish program]] created by Dr. [[Dean Ornish]]. Both emphasize exercise and lifestyle change in addition to dietary treatment.
It is generally accepted{{Fact|date=May 2008}} that foods containing high cholesterol, or that cause the body to make more cholesterol, affect heart disease. Foods containing [[fiber]], [[potassium]], [[nitric oxide]] (in green leafy vegetables), [[monounsaturated fat]], [[polyunsaturated fat]], [[saponin]]s, [[lecithin]], [[stanol]], [[sterol]], [[phytic acid]], [[phenolic]]s, [[antioxidant]]s, [[carotenoid]]s, [[flavonoid]]s, or [[tannin]]s are said to lower cholesterol levels in the body. Foods high in [[grease]], [[salt]], [[trans fat]], or [[saturated fat]] are said to raise cholesterol levels.
Articles that address aspects of diet and heart disease:
*[[Coronary heart disease]]
*[[Cardiovascular disease]]
*[[Nutrition facts label]]
*[[Saturated fats]]
*[[Monounsaturated fat]]
*[[Polyunsaturated fat]]
*[[Cholesterol]]
*[[Trans fat]]
*[[Hypercholesterolemia]]
*[[Triglycerides]]
*[[Lipids]]
*[[Lipid hypothesis]]
*[[Edible salt]]
*[[Potassium]]
*[[Dietary fiber]]
*[[Alcohol and heart attacks]]
==References==
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== External links ==
*[http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=855 AHA Nutrition Facts]
*[http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200010 Diet and Nutrition - AHA]
* UK: [[Food Standards Agency]] [http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthissues/healthyheart/ Eat well, be well - Healthy heart]
* Review of from Harvard School of Health [http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/low_fat.html Low-Fat Diet Not a Cure-All]
[[Category:Nutrition]]
[[Category:Cardiovascular diseases]]