Western Diet Hits Heart Health Globally

Meat, fat, salt increase heart risk 35%
By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 21, 2008 5:28 AM CDT
Western Diet Hits Heart Health Globally
A diet high in fruit, vegetables and fiber reduces the risk of heart attack by 30%, according to a new study.   (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

If you eat meat, fried foods, and salty snacks, you're at a significantly higher risk of heart attack regardless of where you live, according to a new Canadian study. The Western diet increases heart attack risk by 35%, while a diet rich in vegetables and fiber cuts that risk by 30%, reports the Canadian Press. "The good diet seemed to be protective irrespective of which region of the world you came from, and the bad diet seemed to be harmful," said a researcher.

A similar look at the Asian diet found no link to heart disease. "It's almost what your grandmother told you to do, and it's nice that science is reinforcing it," said an international health expert. (More western diet stories.)

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