American Heart Association Dietary Guidance 2021

Poor diet quality is strongly associated with elevated risk of cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. Evidence-based dietary pattern guidance to promote cardiometabolic health includes the following:  

(1) adjust energy intake and expenditure to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight;  

(2) eat plenty and a variety of fruits and vegetables;  

(3) choose whole grain foods and products;  

(4) choose healthy sources of protein (mostly plants; regular intake of fish and seafood; low-fat or fat-free dairy products; and if meat or poultry is desired, choose lean cuts and unprocessed forms);  

(5) use liquid plant oils rather than tropical oils and partially hydrogenated fats;  

2021 Dietary Guidance to Improve Cardiovascular Health: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association 

Alice H. Lichtenstein, Lawrence J. Appel, Maya Vadiveloo , Frank B. Hu , Penny M. Kris-Etherton , Casey M. Rebholz , Frank M. Sacks ,et al.  

Originally published 2 Nov 2021https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001031Circulation. 2021;144:e472–e487 

(6) choose minimally processed foods instead of ultra-processed foods;  

(7) minimize the intake of beverages and foods with added sugars;  

(8) choose and prepare foods with little or no salt;  

(9) if you do not drink alcohol, do not start; if you choose to drink alcohol, limit intake; and  

(10) adhere to this guidance regardless of where food is prepared or consumed.  

Creating an environment that facilitates, rather than impedes, adherence to heart-healthy dietary patterns among all individuals is a public health imperative.