Cardiologist Lyudmila Salamatina: eating the right fats protects against the development of atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis is a disease of blood vessels, which in its case cease to function normally and are subject to destruction as a result of the deposition of fatty (cholesterol) plaques on their walls. It is with the development of atherosclerosis that people are susceptible to such dangerous pathologies as myocardial infarction and cerebral stroke.
Cardiologist Salamatina stated: to maintain vascular health, it is necessary to avoid eating harmful fats and enrich the daily diet with healthy fats. In addition to minimizing harmful fats (primarily trans fats and saturated animal fat consumed in large quantities), it is also important to control the amount of salt and sugar in your diet, the expert emphasized.
According to Lyudmila Salamatina, one of the best examples of nutrition with the presence of healthy fats is the Mediterranean diet – a diet that emphasizes plant foods, low consumption of red meat, dairy products, and saturated fat. Fats consumed in accordance with this diet improve blood vessels and prolong life, the specialist noted.
“Scientists found that people had a 28% reduced risk of atherosclerosis over five years if they followed a Mediterranean diet enriched with nuts. This figure reached 31% if olive oil was included in the diet. This diet is associated with a 10% reduction in the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and premature death,” Salamatina said in an interview with healthy-food.rf.
The cardiologist clarified that to improve the health of blood vessels, scientists recommend eating fish once or twice a week, while red meat should be eaten in quantities of up to 350-500 grams per week. As for nuts, it is useful to eat them every day, strictly unsalted (a portion should not exceed 30-40 grams). Fish, nuts, cod liver and some vegetable oils are a source of omega-3 fatty acids, which effectively support the ability of blood vessels to contract and relax – this in turn reduces the risk of life-threatening cardiovascular pathologies.
Earlier, the MedikForum.ru portal wrote about why tomato paste or tomato juice should be consumed daily.
Important! Information is provided for reference purposes. Ask a specialist about contraindications and side effects and do not self-medicate under any circumstances. At the first signs of illness, consult a doctor.
Lyudmila Salamatina Healthy lifestyle cardiologist, doctor of medical sciences