Cardiovascular diseases are the various disorders involving the heart and blood vessels. These are the leading cause of death or disability in developed countries and in several developing countries, such as Colombia. While some of these are determined by genetic or biological causes that we cannot control, others are caused by risk factors that we could indeed modify with our lifestyle.
The most important causes, according to the World Health Organization, are:
- Inadequate diet: excessive in calories, high in sodium, sugar, and unhealthy fats, and low in protective nutrients like fiber, vitamins, minerals, among others.
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Tobacco and alcohol consumption
- Stress
Prolonged exposure to these factors can manifest in the form of: high blood pressure, hyperglycemia (diabetes or prediabetes), hyperlipidemia (alterations in cholesterol and triglyceride levels), and overweight or obesity. These are disease conditions that require both early detection and comprehensive, interdisciplinary management to prevent progression and complications.
Both from a preventive and curative approach, diet plays a fundamental role in addressing these pathologies. There are key nutrients that we should consume in moderation and others that we should consume in greater quantities, as well as lifestyle habits that could become protective factors against these types of diseases. We could divide these nutrients into healthy and unhealthy for cardiovascular health, as follows:
Unhealthy nutrients
- Excessive sodium.
- Unhealthy fats: saturated and trans.
- Sugar.
Healthy nutrients
- Healthy fats: monounsaturated and polyunsaturated.
- Fiber.
- Vitamins and minerals (except for sodium)
Camila Henao
Nutritionist Dietitian
University of Antioquia