a message from Asbury’s Health Ministry Team
Over the years, low-fat and low carbohydrate diets have been thought of as the best for preventing heart disease. It is important to consider what types of food are eaten with these diets. A large-scale study of over 200,000 participants found an association with low carbohydrate and low-fat diets that emphasized high quality food (i.e., fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and legumes) with a 15% lower risk of developing coronary heart disease. Those who ate unhealthy foods didn’t get the benefit. The bad or unhealthy foods include refined grains like a white roll, sugary snacks, processed meats, and animal fats. Low-quality foods do not contain vital nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that protect the heart.
Eating lots of vegetables and fiber helps control blood sugar and prevent excess weight gain. High blood sugar can contribute to heart disease by damaging blood vessels. The best diet has lean protein, fish, beans, and legumes. If looking at a plate, half of the plate should contain fruits and vegetables. One quarter of plate should be whole grains, and the last quarter should contain lean protein. High quality diet will give steady blood sugar, optimize blood pressure, and improve cholesterol levels. Eat healthy and stay healthy.