Analysis of a randomized controlled trial found that an overall healthy dietary pattern benefits cardiovascular health regardless of which macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein, or unsaturated fats) are emphasized. The study, published recently in the International Journal of Cardiology, was part of the OmniHeart trail, a randomized feeding study in which 164 participants with high blood pressure (average age 54 years) were fed three different diets, each for a period of six weeks. All three diets were based on the DASH dietary pattern (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), but emphasized either complex carbohydrates, plant protein, or unsaturated fats. (Each included at least four to six servings of fruits and vegetables a day.) In the original analysis, all three diets improved blood pressure and blood LDL cholesterol levels. This new analysis found that all three diets also led to a decrease in blood markers for cardiac damage and systemic inflammation (risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease).
Research is clear that eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes/beans, whole grains and fish that limits processed red meats, sugary beverages, and refined starches and sweets is the best choice for heart health (and most health-related outcomes) regardless of the macronutrient composition of that diet. (Note: Carbohydrates in this type of dietary pattern come mainly from fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains, not refined grains and sweets.)