According to a study, more than two-thirds of heart disease-related fatalities may be avoided globally if people adopt a balanced diet. Cardiovascular disease is currently one of the main causes of fatality in human. The study’s findings were announced on the World Food Day.

Unhealthy diet, high blood pressure, and increased serum cholesterol are the main three causes of deadly heart attacks and angina, which is also referred to as ischemic heart disease. The same tendency might be seen in developed and developing countries.

The researchers computed the impact of 11 risk factors on ischemic heart disease death. Poor diet, high blood pressure, increased serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, increased plasma glucose, smoking, increased body mass index (BMI), inactivity, air pollution, decreased renal function, lead exposure, and alcohol use were among these. They computed the proportion of fatalities that would have been prevented had that risk factor not existed.

High BMI was the fifth-highest cause of ischemic heart disease deaths in men and fifth among causes in women. 18.3% of fatalities from ischemic heart disease in women may be prevented if BMI was kept between 20 and 25 kg/m².

Between 1990 and 2017, there was a decrease in age-standardized prevalence, incidence, and death rates per 100,000 people. The number of affected people is still growing as a result of population growth and ageing, despite advancements in heart disease prevention and survival rates, particularly in industrialized countries.

Experts stated that consuming less processed foods, sweetened beverages, trans and saturated fats, and added salt and sugar, might avoid more than six million fatalities. Ideally, people should consume 100 to 150 grams of whole grains, 100 to 300 grams of fruit, 290 to 430 grams of vegetables, 16 to 25 grams of nuts, and 200 to 300 grams of omega-3 fatty acids from seafood per day to be healthy.

(Source: https://www.livemint.com/science/health/avoid-heart-disease-deaths-by-making-this-small-adjustment-study-11672098839260.html)