There’s no doubt that healthy eating and healthy living go hand-in-hand. There have been number of studies world-wide to understand our bodies’ reaction to certain foods compared to the others. In one such recent study, it has been found that an overall healthy eating pattern is more effective in lowering heart-related risks than any particular diet regime. Conducted by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the findings were published in online journal JAMA Internal Medicine.

The study stated that a good diet regime, including various ingredients and nutrients, play a better role in lowering cardiovascular disease, than any particular/specific diet plan. An official release by the school also stated that some earlier studies examined how adhering to one recommended eating pattern led to long-term risk of heart-related issues.

The findings further showed different healthy eating patterns were equally effective in lowering CVD risk across racial and ethnic groups and other subgroups.

The researchers of this study focused on the dietary patterns of over two lakh participants. They found that participants who adhered most to the healthy eating patterns had a 14 to 21 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease, compared with those who adhered the least.

However, every eating pattern focused on higher consumption of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, and nuts, and lower intakes of red and processed meats and sugar-sweetened beverages.

Speaking about the same, study researcher Frank Hu stated, “There is no one-size-fits-all diet that is best for everyone. One can combine foods in a variety of flexible ways to achieve healthy eating patterns according to individuals’ health needs, food preferences, and cultural traditions.”