Overview

• Harvard researchers followed almost 200,000 participants in three long-term cohorts from 1986 to 2019 to link dietary patterns with heart disease outcomes.
• High-quality nutrients from whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes were associated with a roughly 15% reduction in coronary heart disease risk.
• Unhealthy low-carb or low-fat diets emphasizing refined grains, added sugars and saturated fats correlated with higher incidence of heart disease.
• Metabolomic analysis of over 10,000 participants measured hundreds of blood markers to reveal how diet quality influences metabolic regulation.
• Presented at NUTRITION2025, the findings underscore the importance of prioritizing minimally processed, plant-based foods in any diet for better heart health.