march issue

24
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) includes
coronary heart disease, stroke, and
heart failure and is the primary cause of
mortality, disability, and morbidity in
developed countries.2 Risk factors for
CVD are high blood pressure, type 2
diabetes, inflammation, and
hypercholesterolemia.2 Several studies
show that those who eat diets rich in
fish and nutrient-dense minimally
processed plant foods have a lower risk
of developing those risk factors and
CVD.2 In addition, the consumption of
omega-3 fatty acids and some
phytochemicals have anti-inflammatory
and anti-thrombotic effects that can
reduce the risk of developing CVD.2
Omega-3 fatty acids are found in plant
oils, nuts and seeds, and fish.
Phytochemicals are naturally-occurring
compounds found in plants and plant
foods like vegetables and plant oils. The
Mediterranean diet, which recommends
high consumption of grains, legumes,
fruits, nuts, and vegetables and limited
meat consumption, can decrease the
risk of developing CVD by about 20-
25%.3
As of 2018, 34.2 million people of all
ages (10.5% of the US population) had
diabetes.4 Risk factors for diabetes
include family history, genetics, age,
race or ethnicity, inactivity, high blood
pressure, and dietary patterns. Research
shows that