Dutch researchers and colleagues have determined that combining certain foods into a portfolio diet plan called the polymeal could significantly decrease cardiovascular disease events. Their study was published in the December 2004 issue of the "British Medical Journal", known as BMJ. Oscar H. Franco and his co-researchers say the polymeal could be an effective, safe and less expensive alternative to medication for increasing life expectancy.
Considerations
The polymeal diet study came about after scientists introduced a "polypill" concept that would combine six pharmacological components for a significant reduction in cardiovascular disease incidence. The medication could be effective but also would have side effects in addition to being pricey. Cardiovascular disorders are the leading cause of death and disease in Western populations, but preventive measures are not optimal due to expense, poor compliance and side effects, as noted by the BMJ study authors.
Significance
After reviewing data from the available scientific literature, the researchers determined potential cardiovascular benefits for men and women if combining the most beneficial foods into a polymeal diet plan. For men, eating polymeal foods on daily could increase total life expectancy by more than six years and increase life expectancy without cardiovascular disease by nine years. For women, the polymeal could increase life expectancy by nearly five years and increase life expectancy without cardiovascular disease by more than eight years.
Foods to Include
The authors chose foods for the polymeal that had shown effects for decreasing risk factors for cardiovascular disease or for reducing cardiovascular disease events. Foods that qualified were fruits, vegetables, garlic, fish, almonds, dark chocolate and wine.
Specifics
Drinking 150 ml, or about 5 oz., of wine per day decreases cardiovascular disease by 32 percent, according to the BMJ study. Eating fish four times per week reduces cardiovascular disease by 14 percent. The other foods were associated with reducing risk factors. Eating dark chocolate, fruit and vegetables lowers blood pressure, while consuming garlic and almonds lowers cholesterol levels.
Modifications
You may add other beneficial foods associated with improving cardiovascular risk factors, although the evidence is not as strong for their benefits, notes the BMJ study. These foods include oat bran, other nuts in addition to almonds, chickpeas, soybeans, tomatoes, tea, olive oil, soy oil and echium oil. An article published in the September 2009 issue of "Nutrition and Dietetics" offered modifications to the diet that would make it less expensive. Taking fish oil capsules instead of eating fish, not drinking wine and eating smaller amounts of dark chocolate could cut the price of the polymeal in half. These modifications also significantly decrease saturated fat and calories. However, the BMJ study notes that removing wine from the polymeal would have a strong negative effect on the risk reduction of cardiovascular disease.
Side Effects
The BMJ study authors did not find serious adverse effects connected with the polymeal foods in any of the literature. Garlic could cause gas, abdominal pain, abnormal bleeding and body odor. Eating more fish than recommended in the plan might cause problems with mercury intake, primarily if you eat large fish such as shark and swordfish.
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