Eat more fruits and vegetables in young adulthood for a healthier heart
It is well established that fruits and vegetables are good for us. Now, a new study provides further evidence of this, finding that eating more fruits and vegetables in young adulthood may benefit heart health 20 years later. Published in the journal Circulation, the research reveals that young adults who ate an average of seven to nine portions of fruits and vegetables daily were significantly less likely to have calcified coronary artery plaque 2 decades later than those with low intake of fruits and vegetables.
The presence of calcified coronary artery plaque can be an indicator of atherosclerosis - a hardening of the arteries that can increase the risk of heart attack and coronary heart disease. This is not the first study to associate consumption of fruits and vegetables with heart health. Last year, for example, Medical News Today reported on a study suggesting eating more green vegetables may protect against heart conditions, while other studies have linked a diet high in fruits and vegetables with lower risk for heart disease.
However, Dr. Michael D. Miedema, lead author of this latest study and senior consulting cardiologist at the Minneapolis Heart Institute in Minnesota, says their research is the first to assess whether consumption of fruits and vegetables in young adulthood influences heart health later in life.
At study baseline in 1985, participants were asked to complete a questionnaire detailing their diet, smoking status, weight, cardiovascular risk factors - such as blood pressure - among other lifestyle factors.
The subjects were allocated to one of three groups based on their daily intake of fruits and vegetables. In the group with the highest intake of fruits and vegetables, women consumed an average of nine portions a day, while men ate an average of seven portions daily. Medical News Today
