#Port folio diet update#

Studies consistently have shown that regular consumption of nuts is associated with a reduced risk of CVD.3 According to the AHA, soluble fiber from fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and pulses are recommended in a heart-healthy diet, a prescription also in alignment with the Portfolio diet.4 Nuts provide unsaturated fats, antioxidants, plant sterols, protein, and fiber and are linked to CVD prevention. The consumption of plant sterols doesn't appear to interfere with the action of cholesterol-lowering medications such as statins.1 The efficacy of plant sterols is so strong that the National Cholesterol Education Program recommends people with high cholesterol consume 2 g daily.2 Plant sterols have been shown to reduce CVD by blocking the absorption of cholesterol in the small intestine, which can lower LDL cholesterol by 6% to 15% without lowering HDL levels. Most of the prescribed cholesterol-lowering foods in the Portfolio diet are backed up by well-designed studies and health organization recommendations. Being a version of the vegan diet, it excludes meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, and eggs. The Portfolio diet also substitutes soyfoods for animal-based products. Jenkins, MD, a professor in the departments of nutritional sciences and medicine at the University of Toronto in Canada, all of these foods have been shown to lower cholesterol. According to the diet's founder, David J. The Portfolio diet recommends including 2 g plant sterols, primarily from plant sterol–enriched margarine 50 g nuts (about a handful) 10 to 25 g soluble fiber from a variety of plant foods and 50 g soy protein daily along with regular physical activity. While many of the Portfolio diet's facets already are recommended for lowering cholesterol by organizations such as the American Heart Association (AHA), other aspects still are being investigated for efficacy. The theory behind it is that when these cholesterol-lowering foods are eaten together, within a healthful diet, the diet as a whole can help lower LDL cholesterol. What is it, what are its health claims, and is it effective?Ī: The Portfolio diet is a modified vegan diet that includes a variety-or 'portfolio'-of foods shown to lower cholesterol. 'This study demonstrates that certain plant foods are especially effective for lowering cholesterol and boosting our overall cardiovascular health.'īased on the study, the authors concluded that the Portfolio dietary pattern leads to clinically meaningful improvements in LDL-C as well as other established cardiometabolic risk factors and estimated 10-year CHD risk.Q: Lately, I've been hearing about the Portfolio diet.

'Previous clinical trials and observational studies have found strong evidence that a plant-based diet can improve heart health,' says Kahleova. It also helped reduce 10-year coronary heart disease risk by 13 percent.

The meta-analysis found that following the dietary pattern reduced LDL-cholesterol by 17 percent, while also reducing total cholesterol, triglcyerides, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and C-reactive protein. 2 grams of plant sterols per day from supplements or plant-sterol enriched products.

20 grams of viscous soluble fiber per day from oats, barley, psyllium, eggplant, okra, apples, oranges, or berries.

50 grams of plant protein per day from soy products or dietary pulses (beans, peas, chickpeas, or lentils) per day.

42 grams of nuts (tree nuts or peanuts) per day.

The diet is based on the 'Portfolio Diet,' which is a plant-based dietary pattern that emphasizes a portfolio of four proven cholesterol-lowering foods:

#Port folio diet update#

The study was conducted by Hana Kahleova, director of clinical research for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, and colleagues to update the European Association for the Study of Diabetes clinical practice guidelines for nutrition therapy.įor the study, the researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials using GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) of the effect of the Portfolio dietary pattern on the primary therapeutic lipid target for cardiovascular disease prevention, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and other established cardiometabolic risk factors. A diet consisting of plant protein, nuts, fiber, and plant sterols is beneficial for Heart, lowering cholesterol and improving blood pressure and markers for cardiovascular risk, according to a meta-analysis published in the journal Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases.