Emma Miller
More and more people are facing cardiovascular diseases. Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, so “hearties” need to take good care of their health.
There are scientifically proven steps you can take to live longer, including being more mindful of what you eat.
Recent research suggests that including more plant-based foods, especially those rich in omega-3 fatty acids, in the diet may be the key to increasing the life expectancy of people with cardiovascular disease.
In an analysis published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Alex Sala-Vila, Ph.D., from the Institute of Medical Research at Hospital del Mar in Barcelona, and colleagues examined data from 905 people with an average age of 67. All of them were heart failure patients whose cardiovascular problems were caused by various reasons.
Patients were followed up on average after 2.4 years. During this time, 85 people died of cardiovascular disease, and 140 died of other causes. When the researchers compared patients with the highest and lowest ALA levels, they found that patients with higher levels had a lower risk of first hospitalization for heart failure, death from cardiovascular disease, and death from all causes.
“Including certain ALA-rich foods, such as walnuts, in the diet of any person, whether they have HF or not, may lead to [cardiovascular] benefits beyond the presumed effects on [heart failure],” the expert said.
Hemp seeds, chia seeds, and flax seeds contain not only plant-based omega-3 fatty acids but also antioxidants that help fight inflammation, experts say.
You can sprinkle them on oatmeal, add them to salads, mix them with smoothies, or use them as nut butter on sandwiches.
