Heart Health
Healthy diet linked to better cardiovascular fitness
Research we're watching
- Reviewed by Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
A heart-healthy diet that focuses on plant-based foods is closely tied to improved physical fitness, a new study finds.
The study included 2,380 middle-aged people in the Framingham Heart Study, a long-term, multigenerational study that seeks to uncover the underlying causes of cardiovascular disease. All participants underwent a cardiopulmonary exercise test, the gold standard for assessing fitness. They also completed questionnaires to assess the quality of their diets, noting how often they consumed 126 foods and drinks during the previous year. Higher-quality diets emphasized vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, legumes, fish, and healthy fats, and limited red meat and alcohol.
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About the Author
Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter
About the Reviewer
Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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