What would a daily diet made up of proven heart-healthy foods look like?
How much would it cost the average consumer, and how well might it work to prevent heart disease? What they did: Researchers scanned the medical literature for foods proven to cut heart disease risk or lower risk factors. They then applied the expected effects to life tables derived from the Framingham heart study, an experiment following 5,209 adults for 46 years. What they found: The Polymeal is readily available, and, researchers stress, potentially quite tasty. Eating 4 oz. of fish four times a week cuts the risk of cardiovascular disease by 14 percent, while 14 oz. of fruits and vegetables per day lowers risk another 21 percent. Add 2.4 oz. of almonds and 1/10 oz. fresh garlic for proven cholesterol lowering, and enjoy an average 5.1mm Hg drop in systolic blood pressure when you top it off with 100g of dark chocolate. Of course no Polymeal would be complete without a daily 5 oz. glass of wine (any variety), shown to cut overall cardiovascular disease risk by 32 percent. The combin
