Plant-Based Diet Shows Promise in Reversing Heart Disease
A new study reveals that switching to a plant-based diet may prevent and even reverse coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD), a serious heart condition affecting hypertension patients.
Key Takeaways
- Plant-based diet prevents and reverses coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD)
- Benefits occur despite persistent high blood pressure
- Study conducted on hypertensive rats shows promising results for human treatment
- Diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes improves blood vessel function
Understanding Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction
Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is a heart condition where tiny blood vessels regulating heart tissue flow become damaged. These damaged vessels contract, impeding blood flow and causing chest pain.
CMD can lead to frequent chest pain, hospitalization, heart failure, and even death. The condition affects women more severely than men, and current treatments show only moderate effectiveness.
Groundbreaking Research Findings
Researchers at Georgia State University discovered that a plant-based diet “both prevented the development of CMD and reversed established CMD in hypertensive rats,” according to study author Rami S Najjar. The findings were published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
“Interestingly, the beneficial effects of the plant-based diet in CMD occurred despite the persistence of hypertension, showing the diet was having a targeted effect on the small blood vessels of the heart,” the researchers noted.
How the Study Was Conducted
The six-month study involved female hypertensive rats divided into two groups:
- Control diet with no plant foods
- Plant-based diet containing 28% fruits, nuts, vegetables, and legumes
Both diets were nutritionally matched, with the key difference being the high antioxidant content in the plant-based diet. After six months, rats on the control diet were switched to the plant-based treatment.
Human Dietary Recommendations
For human application, researchers suggest a daily intake including:
- One cup of black beans
- One large red bell pepper
- One and a half cups of Brussels sprouts
- Two lemons
- One medium sweet potato
- One and a half cups of walnuts
- One cup of blueberries
The study represents one of the first demonstrations that dietary changes can effectively treat CMD, paving the way for future human clinical trials.
