What is heart disease?
Heart and blood vessel disease remain leading causes of death in North America despite dramatic reductions in their incidence since the 1960s. Roughly one in five North Americans will suffer a heart attack and a million die every year as a result of a stroke or heart attack. In addition to the risk for premature death, cardiovascular disease represents a heavy financial burden to the health care system.
There have been numerous population studies since the early 1950s that have confirmed beyond any doubt that diet is a major force in both the cause and prevention of heart disease. One of the most extensive research projects is the Framingham Heart Study, which has followed more than 5,000 men and women in this Boston, Massachusetts, suburb for more than 40 years. Another large-scale study, the “Seven Countries Study” compared the incidence of heart disease among men in seven countries and then correlated these statistics with diet, smoking habits, physical activity, and other lifestyle factors.
