There are two.
A recent study has highlighted the beneficial impact of two popular diets on reducing the risk of heart disease among individuals with type 1 diabetes. According to findings presented at the American Society for Nutrition meeting in Chicago, diets resembling the Mediterranean and DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diets were associated with lower levels of blood markers used to evaluate heart health.
Lead researcher Arpita Basu, an associate professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, emphasized the protective effects observed with both dietary patterns. These findings build upon previous research linking the Mediterranean and DASH diets to reduced cardiac fat accumulation and arterial hardening.
The study, spanning six years and involving 1,255 adults, including 563 with type 1 diabetes, relied on dietary questionnaires to assess adherence to Mediterranean and DASH diet principles. It was noted that individuals with type 1 diabetes often adopt high-fat diets due to carbohydrate restrictions, with a tendency towards increased consumption of animal proteins high in saturated fats and cholesterol.
Basu underscored the critical need to improve dietary quality among adults managing type 1 diabetes, suggesting that using checklists based on the DASH and Mediterranean diets could help identify dietary gaps and promote healthier eating habits in clinical settings.
She also recommended incorporating specific foods typical of these diets, such as olives and nuts from the Mediterranean diet, even if complete dietary overhaul isn’t feasible. However, it’s important to note that findings presented at conferences are preliminary until published in peer-reviewed journals, cautioning against definitive conclusions before further validation.
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