The MIND Diet May Be Associated With Heart Health Benefits

The MIND diet is a hybrid of the Mediterranean and DASH diets and emphasizes consumption of whole grains, berries, green, leafy vegetables, other vegetables, olive oil, poultry and fish. According to a recent study, adherence to the MIND diet may provide heart health benefits.

Participants In the study included 2,512 adults with an average age of 66 who took part in the Framingham Offspring Study. The researchers analyzed the dietary and echocardiographic data for the participants. They compared their MIND diet adherence score to left ventricular ejection fraction and global circumferential strain, which are measures of left ventricle function.

Participants with higher cumulative MIND diet scores had improved left ventricular function. The left ventricle is the thickest of the heart’s chambers and is responsible for pumping oxygenated blood to tissues all over the body.

The study was conducted by researchers from Boston University. It was published on February 23, 2021 in the British Journal of Nutrition.