New Study Reveals Way To Reduce Heart Disease Deaths

Jan. 20, 2011 - PRLog -- Eating lots of fruits and vegetables may reduce your risk of dying from heart disease.

According to researchers who analyzed data from more than 300,000 people from eight European countries, there is just one more reason to eat vegetables and fruit daily.

Individuals between ages 40 to 85 who took part in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study were followed for an average of nearly 8.5 years.

The findings published online in the European Heart Journal found that there were 1,636 deaths from ischemic heart disease, which is the most common form of heart disease and a leading cause of death in Europe.

According to Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance http://www.criticalillnessinsuranceinfo.org, people with ischemic heart disease have reduced blood flow to the heart, which can cause angina, chest pain and heart attack.

According to the study results, people who ate at least eight portions of fruit and vegetables a day were 22 percent less likely to die of ischemic heart disease than those who ate fewer than three portions a day. A portion was considered to be 80 grams, which would equal a small banana, a medium apple or a small carrot.

For each additional portion above the lowest intake of two portions, the risk of death from ischemic heart disease was reduced by 4 percent, the study authors noted.

The risk of a fatal [ischemic heart disease event] for someone eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day would be 4 percent lower compared to someone consuming four portions a day, and so on up to eight portions or more.

The main message from this analysis is that people who consume more fruits and vegetables have lower risk of dying from ischemic heart disease.

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Jesse Slome is executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance http://www.aaltci.org and the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance http://www.criticalillnessinsuranceinfo.org leading national trade organizations. The Association's Consumer Information Center was voted the #1 source for information by consumer interest group rating and can be accessed at http://www.aaltci.org/long-term-care-insurance/.