Cardiovascular disease is the second leading cause of death in France after cancer. Despite advances in treatment, they are still responsible for around 140,000 deaths ayear1. There are many lifestyle-related risk factors: stress, smoking, diet, alcohol and lack of physical activity. Your diet plays an important role in your cardiovascular health. We tell you more.
Saturated fats (pastries, cold meats, butter or cream...) are bad for the heart.
Conversely, oily fish such as mackerel and salmon, and vegetable oils such as linseed and rapeseed, are rich in omega-3. Monounsaturated fats (e.g. olive oil) also contribute to heart health by reducing bad cholesterol.
5 to 6g of salt a day is enough to keep the body in good health. In developed countries, however, salt consumption can be as high as 20g a day. As indicated in " Health through diet "salt is often hidden in ready-made meals: 80% compared to the 20% of table salt. It is therefore necessary to reduce salt consumption2.
Over-consumption can increase blood pressure, leading to hypertension, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Excess cholesterol is a risk factor for the long-term development of atheromatous plaque. It is also responsible for the initiation of atheromatous plaque. For it (LDL-cholesterol) is the famous lipid that blocks the arteries and is oxidized. Every 1% increase in LDL-cholesterol levels increases coronary risk by 2-3%. So we need to watch our diet and avoid consuming too much of it.
General dietary recommendations obviously apply to heart health. A diet rich in good fats, fiber, fruit and vegetables, and low in salt and saturated fatty acids. A Mediterranean-style diet would therefore seem to be the best choice for a healthy heart.
