Heart health: diets and lifestyle

Abstract

Diet is only one of the aspects of a healthy lifestyle. Fundamental observations were made in 1955 in the Metabolic Research Unit at Groote Schuur Hospital. When high fat diets were given to healthy subjects with low blood cholesterol levels, added beef dripping, beef muscle or butter sustainably increased blood cholesterol levels, while added olive oil restored normal low levels. Increasing blood cholesterol levels in apparently healthy persons that are followed up for many years increases heart attack risks (Framingham studies). Current studies place cholesterol among several major measures of body health, the others being body weight, regular exercise, non-smoking, normal blood pressure and blood glucose levels (even modest elevations warn of risk for future diabetes). For weight reduction, the Noakes and the New Atkins diets show the way. For long term dietary health, the beneficial Mediterranean pattern of eating emphasises high levels of fruit and vegetables, fish rather than meat, olive oil and nuts, all accompanied by modest amounts of wine.

Keywords:

• cholesterol
• body health
• weight reduction
• Noakes diet
• Mediterranean diet