Portfolio Diet for a healthy heart - Nuts, Plant Proteins and Fiber

A diet consisting of plant protein, nuts, fiber, and plant sterols is beneficial for Heart, lowering cholesterol and improving blood pressure and markers for cardiovascular risk, according to a meta-analysis published in the journal Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases.

The study was conducted by Hana Kahleova, director of clinical research for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, and colleagues to update the European Association for the Study of Diabetes clinical practice guidelines for nutrition therapy.

For the study, the researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials using GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) of the effect of the Portfolio dietary pattern on the primary therapeutic lipid target for cardiovascular disease prevention, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and other established cardiometabolic risk factors.

The diet is based on the "Portfolio Diet," which is a plant-based dietary pattern that emphasizes a portfolio of four proven cholesterol-lowering foods:

• 42 grams of nuts (tree nuts or peanuts) per day


• 50 grams of plant protein per day from soy products or dietary pulses (beans, peas, chickpeas, or lentils) per day


• 20 grams of viscous soluble fiber per day from oats, barley, psyllium, eggplant, okra, apples, oranges, or berries


• 2 grams of plant sterols per day from supplements or plant-sterol enriched products

The meta-analysis found that following the dietary pattern reduced LDL-cholesterol by 17 percent, while also reducing total cholesterol, triglcyerides, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and C-reactive protein. It also helped reduce 10-year coronary heart disease risk by 13 percent.

"Previous clinical trials and observational studies have found strong evidence that a plant-based diet can improve heart health," says Kahleova. "This study demonstrates that certain plant foods are especially effective for lowering cholesterol and boosting our overall cardiovascular health."

Based on the study, the authors concluded that the Portfolio dietary pattern leads to clinically meaningful improvements in LDL-C as well as other established cardiometabolic risk factors and estimated 10-year CHD risk.

For further information click on the link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcad.2018.05.004