- European heart specialists are calling for heart patients to be explicitly advised to prioritise home cooking and significantly reduce their consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs).
- A new consensus statement from the European Society of Cardiology links UPFs to an increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressur and overall cardiovascular risk.
- The guidance recommends that patients adopt healthier eating habits, such as eating more slowly and avoiding late-night meals.
- The specialists note that UPFs are often “unrecognised” in current dietary advice given in heart clinics and offer tips for medics on how to counsel patients.
- Doctors are advised to encourage home cooking, mindful eating and to specifically warn against UPFs like sugary drinks, packaged snacks and processed meats.
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