Up to two servings of whole-fat dairy a day can be part of a healthy diet: study

Unprocessed red meat and whole grains can be included or excluded in a healthy diet, according to a study conducted in 80 countries across all continents. Diets rich in fruits, vegetables, dairy products, nuts, legumes and fish have been linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and premature death in all regions of the world. The inclusion of unprocessed red meat or whole grains had little effect on the results. The study was published in the European Heart Journal, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

“Low-fat foods have taken center stage with the public, the food industry, and policy makers,” said study author Dr. Andrew Mente, of the Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada. Focused on reducing fat.” ,
“Our findings suggest that the priority should be to increase protective foods such as nuts (often avoided as too energy-dense), fish and dairy, rather than restricting dairy (especially whole fat) to very low amounts.” Our results show that twice a day dairy products, mainly full fat, can be included in a healthy diet. This is consistent with modern nutritional science showing that dairy, especially full fat, lowers high blood pressure. And may protect against metabolic syndrome.”

The study examined the relationship between new dietary scores and health outcomes in a global population. A healthy diet score was created based on six foods, each of which has been linked to longevity. The cleanse diet included 2–3 servings of fruit per day, 2–3 servings of vegetables per day, 3–4 servings of legumes per week, 7 servings of nuts per week, 2–3 servings of fish per week, and 14 servings of . Dairy products (predominantly full fat but not including butter or whipped cream) per week.

The group was given a score of 1 (healthy) for intake above the median and a score of 0 (unhealthy) for intake above or below the median, for a total of 0 to 6. Dr Mente explained: “Participants in the top 50% of the population – an attainable level – achieved a maximum dietary score of six on each of the six food components.

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The relationship of the score with mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke and total CVD (including fatal CVD and non-fatal myocardial infarction, stroke and heart failure) was examined in the PURE study, which included 147,642 people from the general population of 21 countries.

Analyzes were adjusted for factors that could affect the relationship, such as age, sex, waist-to-hip ratio, education level, income, urban or rural location, physical activity, smoking status, diabetes, use of statins or high blood pressure drugs. can influence. , and total energy consumption.
Dr Mente said: “This was by far the most diverse study of nutrition and health outcomes in the world and the only study with substantial representation from high, middle and low-income countries. The association between pure diet and health outcomes was generally but is found in healthy people, CVD patients, diabetics and all economies.”

“The associations were strongest in regions with the worst quality diets, including South Asia, China and Africa, where caloric intake was low and refined carbohydrates dominated. This suggests that there is a large proportion of deaths and CVD among adults worldwide.” Professor Salim Yusuf, senior author and principal investigator for PURE, said: “due to undernutrition, that is, low intake of energy and protective foods, rather than overnutrition. It challenges current assumptions.”

In an accompanying editorial, Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian from the Freedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, US, said: “The new results in PURE, in combination with prior reports, call for a re-evaluation of unreliable guidelines.” Avoid fat dairy products. The investigation by Mente and colleagues reminds us of the continuing and devastating increase in diet-related chronic diseases globally and of the power of protective foods to help offset these burdens. Now the National The time has come to level nutrition guidelines, private-sector innovations, government tax policy, and agricultural incentives, food procurement policies, labeling and other regulatory priorities, and food-based health care interventions to catch up with the science. Millions of lives depend on it. Are.”