Heart Health

Could Switching Salt Help Protect Your Heart?

A new study suggests replacing regular salt with a lower-sodium alternative could help reduce heart disease risk, although the switch isn't right for everyone.

Blood Markers May Help Explain the Health Risks of Ultraprocessed Foods

Researchers followed more than 6,000 adults and found that blood patterns associated with ultraprocessed diets were also tied to heart disease and type 2 diabetes risk.

The Fiber Hiding in Fruit and Vegetable Scraps

New research finds that some of the peels, skins and stalks we routinely throw away contain more fiber than the parts we eat.

Healthy Eating Linked to Better Heart Health After Cancer

A study of more than 8,700 cancer survivors found that several eating patterns were associated with a lower risk of heart disease over 12 years.

A High-Saturated-Fat Diet Changed Cholesterol in Surprising Ways

In a Norwegian trial, a low-carb, high-fat diet improved some blood markers while raising LDL cholesterol. But major limitations leave questions about long-term heart health.

A New Food Pyramid Makes Room for Different Food Cultures

Researchers compared dietary guidance from several countries and developed a flexible food pyramid that emphasizes plant foods, healthier fats and better carbohydrate choices.

Fish Intake Linked to Lower Pregnancy Blood Pressure Risk

In a study of more than 86,000 women, eating fish before and during pregnancy was associated with lower odds of certain blood pressure complications.

Tea Drinking Linked to Lower Risk of Vascular Disease

In a study of nearly 486,000 adults, regular tea drinkers had a lower risk of vascular disease, although the findings don't prove tea offers protection.

Can Diet Quality Influence Genetic Cholesterol Risk?

A study of more than 1,000 adults in India suggests that eating habits may influence the relationship between certain genes and cholesterol levels.

Healthy Grocery Program Linked to Better Blood Pressure and Weight

Adults who received free, healthy groceries for nearly three years showed improvements in blood pressure, weight and BMI, though the small study cannot prove the food program caused those changes.

For Heart Health, the Whole Diet Matters Most

A new American College of Cardiology statement says overall diet quality matters more than focusing on a single nutrient, food or macronutrient.

Weight Loss May Not Fully Explain GLP-1 Drugs’ Heart Benefits

A new analysis suggests weight loss alone doesn't explain the cardiovascular benefits seen with semaglutide, the medication studied in Wegovy.

How the Body Handles Salt May Affect Blood Pressure During Sleep

Computer modeling suggests the timing of the kidneys’ daily sodium cycle could help explain why some people’s blood pressure stays elevated at night.

More Whole Grains May Help Several Heart Health Markers

A review of 87 randomized trials found that eating more whole grains was linked to modest improvements in cholesterol, blood pressure and other measures tied to heart health.

Obesity Treatment Should Focus on Health, Not Just Weight Loss

Experts say success should be measured by changes in things like blood sugar, sleep, mobility and quality of life, not just pounds lost.

Weekend Meal Shifts May Matter for Heart Health

A large French study linked less consistent eating schedules with higher heart disease risk in men, but it cannot show that changing meal times causes the difference.

Dietary Fat May Matter After Prostate Cancer

A long-term study found that men who ate more saturated fat after diagnosis had a higher risk of death, while some unsaturated and plant-based fats were linked to better survival.

Longer Meal Gaps Linked to Faster Disease Buildup in Older Adults

The association was strongest after age 78, suggesting that long fasting windows may not have the same implications in advanced age.

Dollar Store Access Linked to Poorer Health

Communities with more dollar stores had higher rates of obesity, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, but the study cannot show the stores caused those outcomes.

Gut Bacteria May Turn Plant Nutrients into Helpful Compounds

Researchers found that gut microbes can combine nitrate and iron into new compounds that improved blood pressure, blood sugar and liver fat in mice.

New Dietary Guidelines Face Legal Challenge Over How the Science Was Chosen

A doctors' advocacy group wants the 2025-2030 guidelines withdrawn, but the lawsuit lands amid broader concerns over transparency, industry ties and conflicting nutrition advice.

Gestational Diabetes May Signal Broader Health Risks After Pregnancy

More than 1 million women were tracked after pregnancy, with gestational diabetes linked most strongly to later blood sugar problems and more modest increases in several other health risks.

Omega-3 Heart Rhythm Risk May Depend on Dose

A large analysis found a modest increase in atrial fibrillation among high-risk patients taking larger doses, while lower-dose supplements were not tied to a clear rise in risk.

Genes May Shape LDL Response to Saturated Fat on a Low-Carb Diet

A secondary analysis of a randomized diet trial suggests inherited risk may help explain why some people experience larger cholesterol increases than others.