{"id":648523,"date":"2021-11-16T17:39:08","date_gmt":"2021-11-16T21:39:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hauteliving.com\/hautebeauty\/?p=648523&"},"modified":"2021-11-17T16:51:54","modified_gmt":"2021-11-17T20:51:54","slug":"healthy-eating-linked-better-heart-structure-function-latino-adults","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hauteliving.com\/hautebeauty\/648523\/healthy-eating-linked-better-heart-structure-function-latino-adults\/","title":{"rendered":"HealthGAINS: Healthy Eating Linked To Better Heart Structure & Function In Latino Adults"},"content":{"rendered":"

The American Heart Association held a study on Latino adults who followed a healthy dietary plan and its correlation to a healthier heart in terms of structure and function. Through extensive research, it has been concluded that adult Latinos who followed a heart-healthy diet had better heart function, according to ultrasound images that found the heart was pumping blood more efficiently through the heart\u2019s chambers. In addition, healthy eating habits corresponded with the decreased thickness of the heart\u2019s walls, one measure indicating a healthier heart.<\/p>\n

\u201cHealthy diet quality is an important and vital tool in the prevention of heart disease,\u201d said lead study author David Flomenbaum, B.S., B.A., a medical student at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. \u201cMany of our results correspond to current knowledge about diet quality and cardiovascular health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Photo Credit: Shutterstock<\/span><\/p>\n

Research methodology<\/h3>\n

The study included the evaluation of more than 1,800 participants who enrolled in the\u00a0Echocardiographic Study of Latinos (Echo-SOL) ancillary study. Researchers compared adherence to two popular healthy eating plans with the heart\u2019s efficiency at pumping blood and its size and shape, as measured by ultrasound images of the heart (echocardiograms).<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0Echo-SOL is the largest dataset of echocardiographic parameters focused solely on U.S. Latino adults, with strong subgroup representation from people who have Cuban, Puerto Rican, Mexican, and South\/Central American heritage. More than half of the study participants in this analysis were female, and their average age was 56.<\/p>\n

Participants were recruited to join the study from 2008 to 2011. At their initial visit, participants responded to detailed questions about their food consumption over the prior 24-hour period and again via a phone call 5-45 days later.<\/p>\n

Researchers focused on gauging adherence to two healthy dietary patterns: the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), which is designed to help people manage their blood pressure, and the AHEI (Alternative Healthy Eating Index), which measures adherence to the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The DASH diet is low in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol, while rich in fruits, vegetables, and fat-free or low-fat dairy products. This eating plan emphasizes whole grain products, fish, poultry, and nuts but limits sodium, fatty red meat, sweets, added sugars, and sugary beverages. Better AHEI scores correspond to a higher intake of vegetables, whole fruits, whole grains, and nuts as well as lower intake of sugar-sweetened beverages, red\/processed meat, trans fats, long-chain fats, polyunsaturated fats, sodium, and alcohol.<\/p>\n

Both eating plans aimed to lower the risk of heart and blood vessel disease by focusing on nutritious foods. Scoring systems were used to measure how well participants adhered to one of the dietary plans.<\/p>\n

\"\"Photo Credit: Shutterstock <\/span><\/p>\n

Results<\/h3>\n

From 2011 to 2014, all participants received a noninvasive ultrasound test of the heart, or echocardiogram, to measure the heart\u2019s function (including the fraction of blood pumped with each contraction of the heart) and structure (particularly the thickness of the walls of the heart).<\/p>\n

Researchers noted:<\/strong><\/p>\n