The lack of healthy foods and over-consumption of unhealthy foods were contributing factors in more than 400,000 deaths from cardiovascular diseases in United States, according to an analysis from Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors Study.
The information was presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention / Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health 2017 Scientific Sessions.
Based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other sources, the analysis was conducted to determine the impact diet has on the heart and blood vessels.
The results showed a link between unhealthy diets and the deaths of an estimated 222,100 men and 193,400 women from cardiovascular diseases in 2015.
"Low intake of healthy foods such as nuts, vegetables, whole grains and fruits combined with higher intake of unhealthy dietary components, such as salt and trans, is a major contributor to deaths from cardiovascular disease in the United States,” Dr. Ashkan Afshin, lead study author and acting assistant professor of global health at the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation in Seattle, said in a press release.
Balanced diets consisting of nuts, whole grains, fruits and vegetables could save the lives of tens of thousands in the U.S. each year, according to the release.
“Our results show that nearly half of cardiovascular disease deaths in the United States can be prevented by improving diet.” Afshin said.
