What foods besides omega-3 are good for the heart and protect against stroke?
The failure of drugs containing Omega-3, as a means of preventing cardiovascular disease, made scientists wary of all substances that are recommended as cardioprotectors. However, the arguments presented below sound quite convincing.
These are the foods that form the basis of the Mediterranean diet.
A group of researchers from America conducted a twelve-year experiment in which 25,000 women of different ages took part. They studied how the Mediterranean diet affects their health. As a result, it was possible to establish that the likelihood of cardiovascular pathologies in women who followed the diet actually decreased by 25% [1].
The experimenters not only proved this fact, but also traced a causal relationship. For this, an analysis of 40 biomarkers was carried out, which contribute to the development of heart and vascular diseases. First of all, scientists were interested in such severe pathologies as stroke and heart attack, which lead to disability and death.
All women who participated in the study filled out questionnaires and donated blood regularly for the entire 12 years. During this time, cardiovascular events occurred in 428 patients, which is 4.2% of all subjects. They were all part of the low-consumption Mediterranean diet. In women from the “middle” group, vascular events occurred in 3.8% of cases (in 356 participants). Patients of the "upper" group suffered less than the rest. The disease affected only 246 participants.
Thus, it was possible to establish that the risk decreased by 23-28%. If these figures are not impressive, then it should be clarified that people taking statins and other cardioprotective drugs have similar indicators. The Mediterranean diet works differently than drugs. The beneficial effect is achieved by reducing inflammation. It is they who provide almost 30% of the cardioprotective effect on the body.
Compliance with a diet allows you to normalize blood glucose levels, reduce the resistance of cells to insulin, and lose weight. In some subjects, blood pressure stabilized, and blood cholesterol levels improved. It is possible that these beneficial effects were also provided by the Mediterranean diet.
Links to sources
Assessment of Risk Factors and Biomarkers Associated With Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Among Women Consuming a Mediterranean Diet
The author of the article: Molchanov Sergey Nikolaevich | Cardiologist
Education: Diploma in "Cardiology" received at the PMGMU. I. M. Sechenov (2015). Here I completed my postgraduate studies and received a diploma "Cardiologist".
