Author: Sean Wells
In America, an estimated 42
million women suffer from some form of cardiovascular disease, and these
afflictions are the leading cause of fatalities. However, a new study conducted
in Sweden has found that a diet rich in antioxidants, found mainly in fruits,
vegetables and dietary supplements, can significantly reduce the risk of heart
attack in women.The study drew on data from the population-based Swedish Mammography Cohort, and followed a total of 32,561 Swedish women aged 49-83 over a period of ten years, from September 1997 through December 2007. All of these women were free of cardiovascular disease at the outset of the study, and all completed a food-frequency questionnaire in which they were asked how often, on average, they consumed various types of food and beverage.
The investigators calculated estimates of total antioxidant capacity from a database that measures the oxygen radical absorption capacity (ORAC) of the most common foods. The women were then subcategorized into five groups, based on the total antioxidant capacity of their diet.
Over the course of the ten-year study, 1,114 women suffered a myocardial infarction, or heart attack. When this data was correlated with the dietary subcategories, it was discovered that women in the group with the highest total antioxidant capacity had a 20 percent lower risk of heart attack.
“Our study was the first to look at the effect of all dietary antioxidants in relation to myocardial infarction,” says lead investigator Alicja Wolk. “Total antioxidant capacity measures in a single value all antioxidants present in diet and the synergistic effects between them.”
These results are encouraging for all women who may be at risk for cardiovascular complications. In addition to a generally healthy lifestyle involving balanced diet, remaining active and smoke-free, and getting regular check-ups, there is now strong evidence to suggest that a high-ORAC diet can contribute significantly to heart health.
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