5 heart-healthy diets to ward off cardiovascular diseases

Heart diseases are one of the most common causes of mortality in the world. Here are 5 heart healthy diets that can help reduce the risk and improve your overall health.

Heart-healthy diets: Did you know your diet plays a pivotal role when it comes to your heart health? A study published in the European Society of Cardiology’s journal found that eating unhealthy diets is one of the main contributors to heart attacks and other heart disease. The best way to avoid that is by eating the right diet in your daily regimen. Here are 5 heart-healthy diets to keep cardiovascular diseases at bay.

DASH diet: DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, which is specially designed to cater to your heart. It includes foods that are rich in calcium, magnesium, and potassium. The purpose of the diet is to control blood pressure by limiting the intake of sodium, saturated fats, and added sugars.

Mediterranean diet: Several studies, including the one published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, found that eating a Mediterranean diet can be beneficial for your heart. This diet includes a lot of vegetables, fruits, legumes, seeds, fish, and nuts. It also involves restricting your calorie intake.

Flexitarian diet: The diet is a combination of two words: flexible and vegetarian. It includes a diet rich in protein and processed plant-based foods but encourages the consumptionof meat and animal products in moderation. A study published in the British Medical Journal found that eating a flexitarian diet can reduce the risk of heart disease.

Low-carb diet: Generally, this type of diet involves limiting the intake of carbs, including foods like pasta, processed foods, sugary foods, and bread. A study published in the Americal Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that people, especially obese or overweight individuals, who ate a low-calorie diet had improvements in the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases.