Research
Mixed
Mediterranean, DASH-style, pescetarian, and ovo/lacto-vegetarian dietary patterns, when implemented as intended, strongly align with 2021 AHA Dietary Guidance and support optimal cardiovascular health.
Adopt a Mediterranean, DASH, pescetarian, or vegetarian diet as your primary way of eating. Focus on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and healthy fats like olive oil. If you eat animal products, choose lean meats, fish, or low-fat dairy. This approach is flexible, culturally adaptable, and strongly supported by heart health guidelines.
StrongSupportsVERY_HIGH confidence
The first tier of 4 patterns (ie, Mediterranean, DASH style, pescetarian, and ovo-lacto-vegetarian), if implemented as intended, align best with the recent 2021 AHA Dietary Guidance and can be adapted to respect cultural practices, food preferences, and budget to promote long-term adherence.
Source
Popular Dietary Patterns: Alignment With American Heart Association 2021 Dietary Guidance: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
Christopher D. Gardner et al. · Circulation · 2023
DOI 10.1161/cir.0000000000001146
clinical_guidelineCited 140×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Very low-carbohydrate/ketogenic, Paleolithic, and low-carbohydrate dietary patterns have low to moderate or poor alignment with 2021 AHA Dietary Guidance due to restrictions on whole grains, legumes, and oils, and high saturated fat content.Good
- Vegan and low-fat dietary patterns, when implemented as intended, mostly align with 2021 AHA Dietary Guidance but face challenges regarding nutrient adequacy and adherence due to severe restrictions.Good
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