AbstractAims. To develop a healthy diet score that is associated with health outcomes and is globally applicable using data from the Prospective Urban Rural Epi
Consuming fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, fish and whole-fat dairy products is key to lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes. The study also found that a healthy diet can be achieved in various ways, such as including moderate amounts of whole grains or unprocessed meats.
The World Health Organization estimates ~18 million people died from cardiovascular disease in 2019, representing 32% of all global deaths. Of these deaths, 85% were due to heart attacks and strokes. Population Research Health Institute researchers and their global collaborators analyzed data from 245,000 people in 80 countries from multiple studies.
Sigh. Sure, there is nothing wrong with eating those foods. But how about stopping the overconsumption of ultra-processed food instead?
I'm tired of all these articles that seem to promote the consumption of some magic bullet food as if eating more of that is the solution to all our dietary problems. No it isn't. Cut out all the garbage and just eat whole foods instead.
The two go together since you typically eat a fix amount of food per day, so more 'good' food also means less 'bad'. Quotes because the same applies to fad diets that promote aweful eating habits as well.
Totally agree. You and I get that, but a lot of other people won't. Take the whole olive oil thing as an example. You can switch your cooking oil, but if you're still eating (for example) loads of sugar and large quantities of processed food it's not going to make much of a difference is it?
Lastly, one unique aspect of the study is the focus on only protective foods, i.e. a dietary pattern score that highlights what is missing from the food supply, especially in poorer world regions, but this does not negate the importance of limiting the consumption of harmful foods such as highly processed foods.
For what it's worth they mention this at the section "strengths and limitations" near the end (bold is mine) and it's quite a long read.