When Will Medical Students be Taught This?

The July, 2009 issue of Current Atherosclerotic
Reports (2009 Jul;11(4):257-63) reveals:

TITLE:

Diet and lifestyle influences on risk of coronary
heart disease.

AUTHOR:

Hu FB.

AFFILIATION:

Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public
Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

AUTHOR'S EMAIL: frank.hu@...

ABSTRACT

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Coronary heart disease (CHD) stems from the
interplay between genetic and environmental factors.

However, modifiable environmental factors, especially
diet and lifestyle, are largely responsible for
increased risk of CHD at population levels. Although
cigarette smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity
are well-established causes of CHD, the role of
specific dietary factors has not been clearly defined
until more recently.

Cumulative evidence indicates that types of fats and
carbohydrates are more important than total amounts in
determining risk of CHD. Epidemiologic and clinical
trial data strongly support that dietary patterns
rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts
can reduce risk of CHD.

Diet and lifestyle modification, combined with
pharmacologic treatment of hypertension and high lipid
levels (if necessary), could prevent the vast majority
of CHD events.

**************************

Robert Cohen
http://www.notmilk.com