Dr. Mirkin: Lower Your Heart Attack Risk with Fruits & Veggies

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Increasing fruit and vegetable intake from five to eight servings a day prevents heart attacks and prolongs life.

For every additional serving above two per day, there is a 4% decrease in the rate of heart disease deaths (European Heart Journal, published online January 18, 2011).

Not eating enough fruits and vegetables is a major risk factor, in itself, for heart attacks and premature death.

FYI: Eight servings a day of fruits and vegetables will weigh approximately 1.5 pounds.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture have just released a report recommending that Americans eat vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fat-free milk, seafood, eggs, beans, peas, nuts and seeds.

Meanwhile, we should restrict salt, refined sugars, fats, and refined grains.

Among their 23 recommendations:

• Limit daily intake of salt
• Restrict saturated fats
• Replace refined grains with whole grains
• Restrict solid fats and added sugars
• Limit alcohol to one drink per day
• Eat lots of fruits and vegetables
• Replace meat and poultry with seafood
• Do not gain fat weight

A practicing physician for more than 40 years and a radio talk show host for 25, Dr. Gabe Mirkin is a graduate of Harvard University and Baylor University College of Medicine. He is one of a very few doctors board-certified in four specialties: Sports Medicine, Allergy and Immunology, Pediatrics and Pediatric Immunology. For more information, go to DrMirkin.com

Overall Health & Nutrition

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