Heart disease is one of the most common and serious health issues, leading many people to adopt specific heart-healthy diets. But on top of cutting out certain items like red meat, processed foods, and high-sodium meals, it can also help to add specific foods to your rotation for an added boost. New research says there are half a dozen foods that can specifically reduce your risk of heart attack and strokes.
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Mediterranean plants contain particularly helpful compounds.
In a new study published in the journal Food Bioscience, a team of scientists from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) in Spain analyzed plants typically used in the Mediterranean diet. The eating style, which emphasizes whole foods and limited intake of meat and sugar, has become heavily studied for its purported health benefits.
According to a press release, the team focused on six specific species, focusing specifically on the pharmacological capabilities of their compounds, such as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, vascular effects, and lipid metabolism.
Six specific ingredients showed cardiovascular health benefits.
For the study, the research team focused on six plants that they said were selected based on specific criteria.
“All of them originate from the Mediterranean region and hold significant cultural and traditional importance in these countries, as well as notable antioxidant and cardiovascular protective effects,” the team wrote.
The list includes:
- Garlic (Allium sativum, with diallyl trisulfide, allicin, and S-allyl [cysteine])
- Hawthorn shrub (Crataegus monogyna, with quercetin, apigenin, and chlorogenic acid)
- Saffron (Crocus sativus, with crocin and safranal)
- Olive (Olea europaea, with oleic acid, oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol, and oleacein)
- Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus, with rosmarinic acid and carnosic acid)
- Grapevine (Vitis vinifera, with resveratrol)
Results of the analysis showed that the bioactive compounds within these relatively common kitchen items could be helpful in the treatment of atherosclerosis, which is the build-up of plaque in arteries that causes them to thicken and harden. Since this condition is commonly a root cause of heart disease, the researchers said the foods could help reduce the likelihood of a serious medical event such as a heart attack or stroke.
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The findings could help future researchers.
The researchers are optimistic that the results can further research on the topic by highlighting shortfalls in existing knowledge. They also provide a roadmap for how future studies should be conducted.
The team specifically points out the need to better understand the safety of using such compounds medicinally in the long term, as well as examining how the use of extracts might work alongside practicing a Mediterranean diet. They say this understanding is vital to understanding how these compounds can work as plant-derived ingredients in future medicines.
The researchers also pointed out that the combination of these compounds could create a “matrix effect when taken in tandem, which could either increase or diminish their effectiveness." They point out that more study is needed on the effect plant extracts can have overall, writing that "the label of 'natural' does not guarantee safety, and this emphasizes the need to prioritize pharmacokinetic, toxicological and clinical studies to evaluate their efficacy, safety, and efficiency in comparison with existing drugs.”
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The takeaway.
A new study from Spain analyzed key components of the Mediterranean diet, focusing on garlic, hawthorn shrub, saffron, olive, rosemary, and grapevine. Results found that the six plants contained specific compounds that could help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke. The team wrote that their findings should help pave the way for future studies before the information can be used to develop plant-based medicines and extracts for health purposes.
“Our exploration of the therapeutic potential of bioactive compounds from plant extracts of Mediterranean diet constituents underscores their significance as sources of therapeutic agents,” the research team wrote in their conclusion. “While traditional medicinal use of terrestrial plants highlights their promise, rigorous scientific validation is imperative, integrating ethnomedicinal knowledge with biochemical and pharmacological studies.”
