Eating these foods delays heart disease by eight to nine years. Researchers predict it adds more than six years to a man's life and five years to a woman's. See the list of foods below.
Here are other new findings about how food can cut heart disease risk:
Megadose on vitamin C pills. Taking more than 700 milligrams daily for 10 years cut risk of death from heart disease 25%, finds a new Finnish-Harvard study of 300,000 men and women. Just eating vitamin C foods didn't cut risk.
Drink pomegranate juice. In new Israeli studies, patients who drank 1 cup of pomegranate juice daily for a year had 21% lower systolic blood pressure and, more remarkably, 30% less plaque buildup in carotid (neck) arteries. In patients not getting juice, plaque rose 9%. The juice brand used was POM Wonderful; researchers credit its antioxidants.
Watch fat and carbs. In heart patients, a diet high in trans fat (in fast foods, bakery products, margarines) doubles the signs of inflammation, a key factor in clogging arteries, according to new Harvard research. Also found: High-glycemic-index foods (carbs that spike blood sugar, such as sugar, white bread, white potatoes) promoted atherosclerosis in older women more than saturated fat (in meat, butter, cheese) did.
Eat whole grains. In new Danish-Harvard research, men who ate the most whole grains (about 1 1/2 ounces a day) cut heart disease odds 18%. Whole grains rich in bran (such as oat or wheat bran) are more potent, cutting risk 30%.
Eat chocolate, add years.
Every day, eat:
- 14 ounces of fruits and vegetables
- 2 1/2 ounces almonds
- 5 ounces of wine
- 1 clove of garlic
- 3 1/2 ounces of dark chocolate (less if you're counting calories)
4 times a week, eat:
Copyright 2004 Jean Carper. Printed first in USA Weekend. All rights reserved.
For more information from Jean Carper, go to www.Jeancarper.com
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