Best Heart-Healthy Diets
Being overweight is just one factor that puts people at risk for heart disease and stroke. A heart-healthy diet can help you lose weight or lower cholesterol, blood pressure, or triglycerides. According to experts who rated the 29 diets below, the Ornish Diet is the most heart-healthy.
Ornish Diet
Ornish Diet recipes | Ornish Diet reviews
Dieters are sure to do their heart a favor on the Ornish diet, according to experts, and if they use a rigorous version of the plan they could actually reverse heart disease. But the balanced, sound menu promotes heart health only if—experts emphasized if—the diet’s rules are followed.
TLC Diet
TLC Diet recipes | TLC Diet reviews
The Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) diet helps keep cardiovascular disease at bay, according to experts who reviewed the research. Following the diet should bring down blood pressure and improve cholesterol levels, for example.
DASH Diet
DASH Diet recipes | DASH Diet reviews
The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension program, or DASH, was devised to help control high blood pressure, and its effects on that marker of cardiovascular health have been extensively studied. So it’s no surprise that experts regarded it as a good diet for the heart.
Mediterranean Diet
Mediterranean Diet recipes | Mediterranean Diet reviews
Lots of research has validated the Mediterranean diet’s ability to prevent cardiovascular disease because of its emphasis on produce, monounsaturated fats, and protein from fish, with only a small amount from red meat.
Engine 2 Diet
Engine 2 Diet recipes | Engine 2 Diet reviews
The diet earned 3.9 stars, and experts were impressed with its positive affect on heart health. Following this low-fat, vegan plan should help keep cholesterol and blood pressure in check and heart disease at bay.
Vegan Diet
Vegan Diet recipes | Vegan Diet reviews
Veganism earned high marks for its potential to boost cardiovascular health. It emphasizes the right foods—fruits, veggies, and whole grains—while steering dieters away from salty, processed choices.
Flexitarian Diet
Flexitarian Diet recipes | Flexitarian Diet reviews
The Flexitarian diet earned an above-average score, which means it has the potential to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease. Research suggests that eating patterns heavy on fruits, veggies, and whole grains help promote healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Anti-Inflammatory Diet recipes | Anti-Inflammatory Diet reviews
The Anti-Inflammatory diet, which is based on the heart-healthy principles of the Mediterranean diet, earned an above-average 3.6 stars. It emphasizes the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in oily fish and have been linked to a lowered risk of heart disease and other chronic illnesses.
Mayo Clinic Diet
Mayo Clinic Diet recipes | Mayo Clinic Diet reviews
Experts saw the Mayo Clinic Diet as a sound option for preventing or controlling heart problems. Its focus is on coaching dieters to develop healthy, lasting habits around which foods they choose to eat and which to avoid.
Vegetarian Diet
Vegetarian Diet recipes | Vegetarian Diet reviews
A vegetarian diet has the potential to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease, according to experts, as long as vegetarians don’t load up on full-fat dairy and processed foods. It’s a good bet for heart-conscious dieters, especially those who don’t have the heart to eat animals anyway.
