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Liz SwainHealthy heart diet
Definition
A healthy heart diet is an eating plan designed to
keep blood cholesterol low and prevent the risk of
heart disease. This is usually achieved by eating
foods that are low in saturated fat, total fat, choles-
terol, andsodium. Some diets help people lower their
cholesterol levels.
Origins
The healthy heart diet is the result of ongoing
nutrition research by organizations including the
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
and the American Heart Association (AHA). The
department first issued dietary recommendations for
Americans in an 1894 Farmer’s Bulletin, according to
the 1996 USDA reportDietary Recommendations and
How They Have Changed Over Time.
The 1894 recommendations came from W.O.
Atwater, first director of the USDA’s Office of Experi-
ment Stations. He proposed a diet for American men
based onprotein, carbohydrate, fat, and mineral mat-
ter. In a 1902 Farmer’s Bulletin, he warned about the
danger of a dieting consisting of too much protein or
fuel ingredients (carbohydratesand fat). ‘‘The evils of
overeating may not be felt at once, but sooner or later
they are sure to appear—perhaps in an excessive
amount of fatty tissue, perhaps in general debility,
perhaps in actual disease,’’ Atwater cautioned.
More was known about nutrients in 1941 when
the USDA first issued the Recommended Dietary
Allowances (RDAs). The allowance allowances cov-
ered areas like calorie intake and nine essential
nutrients: protein,iron,calcium,vitaminsA and D,
thiamin,riboflavin,niacin, and ascorbic acid (Vitamin
C). The USDA also released national food guides
during the 1940s. The guides provided a foundation
diet with recommendations for foods that contained
the majority of nutrients. The guide was modified in
1956 with recommended minimum portions from food
groups that the USDA called the ‘‘Big Four’’: milk,
meats, fruits and vegetables, and grain products.
Theguidesremainedineffectuntilthe1970swhen
an increasing amount of research showed a relationship
between the over-consumption of fat, saturated fat,
cholesterol, and sodium and the risk of chronic diseases
such as heart disease and stroke. In 1979, the USDA
guide included the Big Four and a fifth category that
includedfats, sweets, and alcoholic beverages.
The following year, the USDA and the Depart-
ment of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued the
first edition of Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary
Guidelines for Americans.The recommendations for
healthy Americans age 2 and older included consum-
ing a variety of foods, avoiding too much fat, satu-
rated fat, cholesterol, and sodium. Those guidelines
were recommended for people older than age 2
because younger children need more calories and fat
in their diet to aid in their growth and development.
The USDA and HHS update the federal guide-
lines every five years. The 1990 edition recommended a
diet low in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol. Salt and
sugars were to be consumed in moderation. InDietary
Guidelines for Americans 2005, the federal depart-
ments featured more specific recommendations.
The recommendations for healthy Americans
came from two departments that are part of the
National Institutes of Health (NIH). Within NIH is
the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
(NHLBI), which was formed by Congress in 1948. In
the 21st Century, the institute’s focus on heart disease
included the creation of a Heart Healthy Diet to keep
cholesterol low and the Therapeutic Lifestyles
Changes (TLC) Diet to help people lower their blood
cholesterol.
Furthermore, the American Heart Association
(AHA)has long been concerned with educating the
public about the relationship between diet and heart
health. The association started in 1924 as an out-
growth of local organizations including the Associa-
tion for the Prevention and Relief of Heart Disease in
New York City. That group was founded in 1915 and
consisted of physicians and social workers.
The national organization’s public education
activities include issuing nutritional guidelines that
are periodically revised. The title of the association’s
‘‘2006 Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations’’ reflected
the importance of diet and physical activity on health,Healthy heart diet