The Californer - Eight Week Summer Better Heart Diet

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Fruit And Vegetable Diet Tied To Better Cardiovascular Health

LOS ANGELES - Californer -- A diet rich in fruit and vegetables has been found to lower blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.

Researchers conducted studies of three groups. Over eight weeks the study participants each ate three different diets. One diet consisted of foods many Americans eat. The second was a diet rich in fruits and vegetables but otherwise similar to the control diet. This is also known as the DASH diet that also has low levels of saturated fat and cholesterol. The participant's weight was kept constant throughout feeding.

"The observational evidence reported by the researchers showed that greater consumption of the DASH diet was associated with a lower risk for cardiovascular events over time," explains Jesse Slome, director of the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance (AACII). "Simply stated, enjoy more of those summer fruits and vegetables and help your heart."

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According to the report published in the medical journal, the mean age of participants was 45.2 years. Some 48% were women and 49% were black. The mean baseline blood pressure was 131/85. None had preexisting cardiovascular conditions. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute sponsored the study.

"Diets rich in fruits and vegetables eaten over 8 weeks were associated with lower levels of known biomarkers. Medical experts recognize these are markers for heart disease issues," Slome adds. "Every 40 seconds someone in America has a heart attack. Small changes in our diet can help reduce risk."

According to analysis of the study by AACII, people who followed either the DASH diet or the other fruit- and vegetable-rich diet consistently had significantly lower concentrations of two biomarkers for eventual heart issues.

The full name of the DASH diet is Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. Experts from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) created the diet to help people manage their blood pressure. For more details and links to the research go to https://criticalillnessinsuranceinfo.org/news/eight-week-summer-heart-diet/.

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To learn more about critical illness insurance visit the Association's website at https://www.criticalillnessinsuranceinfo.org. The American Association for Critical Illness Insurance advocates for the importance of planning and supports insurance professionals who market these products. For instant critical illness insurance rates, visit the Association's website.