CTVNews.ca – A new study led by Canadian researchers analyzing data from several regions across the world has found that not eating enough of six key foods in combination may be linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and related death in adults.
Researchers at McMaster University in Hamilton, as well as the Population Health Research Institute (PHRI), focused on foods considered to be healthy across a global scale, using several independent studies and data from the PHRI to understand the health standings of people with and without cardiovascular disease (CVD).
The study, published on Thursday in the peer-reviewed European Heart Journal, found that people who consume fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, fish and whole-fat dairy products in combination were able to lower their risk of CVD, heart attack and strokes.
Additionally, eating moderate amounts of unrefined whole grains and unprocessed meats can also help reduce these health risks.
Data from the PHRI included a diet score based on the institute’s global Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiological (PURE) study, which involves data from people who have and have not previously had CVD in high, middle and low-income countries.
Their findings also included research from various studies that involved 245,000 people in 80 countries.
According to the study, the PURE Health Diet Score was based solely on natural foods; this helped researchers gain a more extensive scope as previous studies have focused on predominantly Western countries with diets including unhealthy, ultra-processed foods.
“We were unique in that focus,” said study author Andrew Metre in a news release issued Thursday. “The other diet scores combined foods considered to be harmful – such as processed and ultra-processed foods – with foods and nutrients believed to be protective of one’s health … ”
