You’ve probably heard about some superstar cardiovascular foods like cold-water fatty fish (rich in omega-3’s) or dark chocolate and red wine (full of polyphenols), and with good reason, but there are so many more foods that fit the bill. Here are a few cardiovascular-friendly foods you may not have considered:

• Nuts have continually been shown to support cardiovascular health, but the notion that their benefits come solely from the healthy fats they contain is being kicked to the curb. New research is shedding light on the mechanism in which nuts have such a positive impact on cardiovascular health—they repair damaged DNA. This is an incredible discovery, since DNA damage alters healthy gene expression and has been correlated not only with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease but also with insulin resistance and obesity, both of which are closely associated with cardiovascular disease progression. Aim for a 1-ounce serving daily.^1 2 3 4
• Grass-fed beef is a nutritional world apart from conventionally-raised, grain-fed beef. It boasts an impressive omega-3 to omega-6 ratio that is far superior to that of grain-fed beef, which means that grass-fed beef, much like fatty, cold-water fish, helps protect against inflammation in the body. Grass-fed beef is also an excellent source of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which was shown to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in patients with atherosclerosis,⁵ and vitamin E, which helps protect cholesterol from oxidizing. Be sure to choose 100% grass-fed beef.  
• While it might not seem quite as fun and decadent, a diet rich in a variety of fruits and vegetables knocks the socks off a nightly glass of red wine or a piece of  dark chocolate when it comes to keeping the cardiovascular system in tip-top shape. One analysis found that for every serving of fruits and vegetables eaten daily the risk of coronary heart disease was reduced by four percent.⁶ Veggies in particular can help to keep blood sugar balanced which is also critical for protecting the delicate endothelium. In general, aim to get five to nine servings of vegetables and a couple servings of fruits, in a rainbow of colors, daily. Some particularly beneficial choices for cardiovascular health include:
  • Beets, which promote blood vessel relaxation and healthy blood flow⁷
  • Allium family vegetables like onions, garlic, leeks, and scallions, which support healthy blood flow and protect LDL cholesterol from oxidation^{8 9}
  • Eggplant, purple cabbage, pomegranates, berries and other darkly colored fruits and veggies, which are high in a class of polyphenols called anthocyanins that protect against inflammation and oxidative damage
• Vitamin K2 found in dairy from grass-fed animals (especially grass-fed butter and cheese), egg yolks from pastured chickens, and organ meats from pastured animals, directs calcium to the bones and prevents it from settling in the arteries where it can lead to atherosclerosis.  It also modulates inflammation. In general, a high intake of vitamin K2 is associated with lower incidence of cardiovascular disease.^{10 11}
• For decades dietary guidelines have suggested following a low-fat diet, however recent research has found that dairy fat intake in particular is associated with a lower cardiovascular risk. Researchers measured blood levels of a particular saturated fat known to be a biomarker for dairy fat consumption in 4,150 Swedish 60-year-olds and following them for 16 years. They found that the participants with the highest levels of the dairy fat biomarker also had the lowest risk of cardiovascular disease. The researchers then conducted a meta-analysis of 18 different studies looking at dairy fat intake and cardiovascular disease risk, again finding that higher dairy fat intake is linked with lower cardiovascular disease risk.

As important as what you include in your diet is what you leave out. Trans-fats (a.k.a. partially- hydrogenated fats), high glycemic index and glycemic load foods (breads, muffins, bagels, crackers, pastries, and sweets) and omega-6 fats (from vegetable oils like corn, soy, safflower, sunflower, and cottonseed) have all been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.^{12 13} The processed and fast food industries are built on these cardiovascular killers; moving toward a natural-foods diet, built on organic vegetables and fruit, pastured meat and dairy, and healthy fats is one of the most important changes you can make for cardiovascular health.

The Saturated Fat Myth

The beauty of scientific theories is that they can be rejected or modified as new evidence becomes available. Recently, the long-held theory that saturated fat causes heart disease is being turned on its head. For nearly five decades we’ve been told that eating saturated fats will clog our arteries and cause heart disease, but a closer look at the research suggests this theory doesn’t have much truth behind it. A recent analysis of 21 published studies found no connection between saturated fat intake and cardiovascular disease risk, confirming what many in the holistic health field have suspected all along—saturated fats are not the bad guys they’ve been made out to be.¹⁴

In fact, consumption of dairy fat may actually be heart protective. Recently, researchers measured blood levels of a particular saturated fat known to be a biomarker for dairy fat consumption in 4,150 Swedish 60-year-olds and followed them for 16 years. They found that the participants with the highest levels of the dairy fat biomarker also had the lowest risk of cardiovascular disease. The researchers then conducted a meta-analysis of 18 different studies looking at dairy fat intake and cardiovascular disease risk, again finding that higher dairy fat intake is linked with lower cardiovascular disease risk.¹⁵ For more information about saturated fats and their health benefits see the article Could It All Be A Big Fat Mistake?.

Recipes

• Slow-Cooker Pomegranate Beef Stew
• Heart Beet Cookies

References

1. Mercer JR, Cheng KK, Figg N, et al. DNA damage links mitochondrial dysfunction to atherosclerosis and the metabolic syndrome. Circ Res. 2010;107(8):1021-31.
2. Demirbag R, Yilmaz R, Gur M, et al. DNA damage in metabolic syndrome and its association with antioxidative and oxidative measurements. Int J Clin Pract. 2006;60(10):1187-1193.
3. Kastan MB. DNA damage responses: mechanisms and roles in human disease. Molecular Cancer Research. 2008;517. 
4. Gandhi G, Kaur G. Assessment of DNA damage in obese individuals. Research Journal of Biology. 2012;2(2):37-44.
5. Hassan E, Aliasghari, F, Babaei-Beigi M, Hasanzadeh J. “Effect of conjugated linoleic acid and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in atherosclerotic patients.” ARYA Atheroscler. 2013 Nov;9(6):311-8.
6. Crowe FL, Roddam AW, Key TJ, et al. Fruit and vegetable intake and mortality from ischaemic heart disease: results from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Heart Study. European Heart Journal. Published Online 2011.
7. Lidder S, Webb AJ. Vascular effects of dietary nitrate (as foundin green leafy vegetables and beetroot) via the nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide pathway. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2013;75(3):677-696.
8. Sinatra, S.T. and M.C. Houston. “The Integrative Approach to Hypertension.” In Integrative Cardiology, eds. S. Devries and J. Dalen. N.Y.: Oxford University Press, 2011. 224-246.
9. Wilson EA, Demmig-Adams B. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties of garlic and onions. Nutrition & Food Science. 2007;37(3):178-183.
10. Kresser C. RHR: Can vitamin K2 prevent cardiovascular disease? Revolution Health Radio. Transcript available at: http://chriskresser.com/can-vitamin-k2-prevent-cardiovascular-disease
11. Gast CC, de Roos NM, Sluijs I, Bots ML, et al. A high menaquinone intake reduces the incidence of coronary heart disease. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2009;19(7):504-510.
12. Mente A, de Koning L, Shannon HS, Anand SS. A systematic review of the evidence supporting a causal link between dietary factors and coronary heart disease. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(7):659-669.
13. University of Toronto. Some ‘healthy’ vegetable oils may actually increase the risk of heart disease. ScienceDaily. Nov 11, 2013. Available at: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131111122105.htm
14. Siri-Tarino PW, Sun Q, Hu FB, Krauss RM. Meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies evaluating the association of saturated fat with cardiovascular disease. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010;91(3):535-546.
15. Bhat, S., Trieu, K., Dai, Z., et al. (2021). Biomarkers of Dairy Fat Intake, Incident Cardiovascular Disease, and All-Cause Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Heart, Lung and Circulation, 30, S277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hlc.2021.06.405