Cholesterol-lowering ‘portfolio diet’ also reduces blood pressure, study finds
TORONTO, Nov.7, 2015 – A diet developed for reducing cholesterol also lowers blood pressure, a St. Michael’s Hospital study has found.
The research, published today in Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Disease, was a secondary analysis of data collected for a 2011 study on the effect of the ‘portfolio diet’ on cholesterol.
The portfolio diet lowered blood pressure by an average two per cent, when compared with another diet recommended to reduce hypertension.
The portfolio diet includes foods that are scientifically-proven to lower cholesterol including mixed nuts, soy protein, plant sterols (found in vegetable oils and leafy vegetables) and viscous fiber (found in oats, barley and eggplant). The comparison method, a dietary approach to stopping hypertension, or DASH diet, emphasizes fruit, vegetables and whole grains, reduced meat and dairy intake, and eliminating snack food.
