What is a Heart Smart Diet?
Most cardiologists for years have recommended a low fat diet for those wishing to eat heart healthy. There is even evidence for regression of coronary artery disease demonstrated in patients studied by coronary angiography after following a low fat diet and exercise program. This involved the diet recommended by Dr. Dean Ornish. The problem with this diet, and the Pritikin type diet, is that while proven to be heart healthy, they are hard for most patients to accept and adapt to. A low carbohydrate/high fat/ high protein has found some popularity in the form of the Atkins diet. This type of diet seems to be effective in helping some patients lose weight, at least initially. However studies have suggested that this type of diet increases various coronary markers at one year.
The Mediterranean diet has recently been gaining advocates. This diet seems to focus more on eating sensibly. It has been studied and shown to reduce the risk of sudden death and mortality. These studies include the Lyon Heart, DART, and GISSI Prevention. The Mediterranean dietary pattern consists of:
(a) Daily consumption: non refined cereals and products (whole grain bread, pasta, brown rice, etc.), vegetables (2-3 servings/day), fruits (6 servings/day), olive oil (as the main added lipid) and dairy products (1-2 servings/day)
(b) Weekly consumption: fish(4-5 servings/week); poultry (3-4 servings/week); olives, nuts, and legumes (e.g. peas, lentils, chickpeas)(3 servings/week); potatoes, eggs, and sweets (3-4 servings/week)
(c) Monthly consumption: red meat and meat products (4-5 servings/month)
(d) Moderate consumption: wine (1-2 glasses/day) and high monounsaturated:saturated fat ratio (>2)
The Mediterranean diet recommends 30-40% of calories come from fat, but primarily from monounsaturated olive oil. The American Heart Association and the National Cholesterol Education Programs have actually modified their recommended diets to more closely resemble the Mediterranean dietary pattern. The emphasis on fish in the Mediterranean diet means it includes a significant amount of omega-3 fatty acids. This is felt to be a major factor in the effectiveness of this type of diet in fighting heart disease.
No fat, low fat, high fat. Our patients bring in clippings all the time extolling the virtues of various diets. From a practical standpoint, we are trying to help our patients on two fronts most of the time. The one area involves weight reduction and the other involves cardiac risk reduction. Weight reduction is very important and I encourage patients to try any reasonable diet that allows them to burn through more calories in a twenty-four period than they consume. Moderate, regular exercise is an essential component to effective weight reduction. The Mediterranean dietary pattern seems to encompass a favorable approach to eating and the types of food we should consume. It is a form of lifestyle modification that seems to be realistic for many patients and puts them on a good pathway to reducing cardiac risk.
Cardiology Physicians, P.A.
Abby Medical Center
One Centurian Drive
Suite 200
Newark, DE 19713
302.366.8600
1401 Foulk Road
Suite 201
Foulkstone Plaza
Wilmington, DE
302.478.5055
www.cardiocppa.com
JOHN J. KELLY III, M.D., F.A.C.C.
Dr. Kelly has been a member of Cardiology Physicians since 1996. Dr. Kelly grew up nearby the Wilmington area in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. He attended Garnet Valley High School. His family belonged to the Graylyn Crest Swim Club in Northern Wilmington. Dr. Kelly obtained a Bachelor of Arts from Swarthmore College and attended Jefferson Medical College. His post graduate training began with a residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Illinois in Chicago. He served as Chief Medical Resident there. His Cardiology Fellowship was at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston Texas. Dr. Kelly’s recognitions include AOA membership, being named Intern of the Year at University of Illinois and being named Chief Cardiology Fellow at the Texas Heart Institute. He was an Attending Physician at the Christ Hospital in Cincinnati. He received a Teaching Award from the residents at Christ Hospital. He was then an attending physician at Paoli Memorial Hospital and Bryn Mawr Hospital in Pennsylvania before joining Cardiology Physicians in 1996. Dr. Kelly is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology and is board certified both in Internal Medicine in the subspecialty of cardiovascular disease. He has additional board certification in interventional cardiology.
Dr. Kelly has a strong commitment to consultative cardiology and has been in practice since 1991. Dr. Kelly has additional areas of interest including echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography, stress echocardiography, diagnostic catheterization and catheter based treatment of heart disease. He also has an interest in the treatment of peripheral vascular disease. Dr. Kelly is the Medical Director for Cardiology Education at Christiana Care Hospital.
Dr. Kelly and his wife Janice were married in 1989. Dr. Kelly and Janice are the proud parents of Jay and Brooke. Dr. Kelly’s free time is spent enjoying family activities. He spends as much time as possible on the sidelines watching his children compete in various athletic contests. He enjoys chipping in with coaching when able. He tries, without much success, to play golf.
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