(New Orleans) - Unlike previous discoveries, the traditional low-fat diet recommended by the American Heart Association is as healthy as a rich Mediterranean diet in olive oil and nuts.
This news comes from Katherine Tuttle, MD, from the Providence Medical Research Center and the Heart Sacred Medical Center in Spokane, Wash.
Tuttle's Team studied 202 people who suffered heart attacks in the previous six weeks and discovered that people in diet were two thirds less likely to suffer another heart attack, stroke or other heart problems or die than people who continued to eat their usual diet.
What made the difference difference, structured visits with nutritionist, Tuttle tells WebMD.
"Diets are prudent and healthy choices," she says. "But it is very difficult to maintain a lifestyle intervention without reinforcement, so make regular visits repeated with a nutritionist is important to meet your goals."
The study was presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology.
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Both the American Heart Association (AHA) and Mediterranean diets appeal to consume less than 200 milligrams of cholesterol per day, with less than 7% of the total calories coming from saturated fat. In contrast, the American average consumes double fat, Tuttle says.
In the study, people attributed to AHA diet were advised to maintain total fat intake for less than 30% of calories. Those in the Mediterranean diet were allowed to increase their fat intake to 40%, "the difference from healthier monounsaturated fats, with special emphasis on omega-3 fatty acids, says Tuttle.
In fact, the Mediterranean dieters ate rich fish in omega three to five times a week; His diet was also high in olive oil, nuts and avocados, she says.
AHA fat diet has placed an emphasis on fresh fruits and vegetables, with moderate intake of lean meats as chicken. People in this group were informed to stay away from saturated fats and foods rich in cholesterol like butter, cream and fat red meats.
Dieters in both groups had frequent one-on-one meetings with a nutritionist - two in the first month and then every three to six months after that . In addition, they participated at least six group counseling sessions.
A total of 50 people were attributed to the low-fat diet and 51 to the Mediterranean diet. "On average, most met their dietary goals," says Tuttle.
In the next four years, eight people in both groups suffered another heart attack, had a spill or develop another heart problem. No one in any group died.
People in both diet groups were then compared to a group of 101 heart attack survivors who have not received any intensive dietary intervention or nutritional counseling. Among this group, 40 had a heart attack, stroke, other cardiac problems, or died in the next four years. In addition, cholesterol levels improved in both diet groups, but not in the usual care group.
Robert Eckel, MD, immediate president of the American Heart Association and Endocrinology Professor at the University of Colorado, says: "People who have had a heart attack need to receive dietary councils on an ongoing basis. Active intervention By a nutritionist is an important part of success. "
It notes that in the previous study that showed that the Mediterranean diet was better for the health of the heart than the AHA diet, only people in the Mediterranean diet have regular diet advice."No behavior modification, without diet will work," Eckel tells WebMD.
