Need to Lower Your Cholesterol? The Portfolio Diet Might Be Worth a Try
The portfolio diet is a plant-based eating plan designed to improve heart health by emphasizing fruits, vegetables, nuts, and healthy fats.
What Is the Portfolio Diet?
This diet is related to the Mediterranean diet but is more focused. It replaces animal-based foods with a combination of plant foods rich in fiber, protein, and healthy fats.
Development and Philosophy
Richard Jenkins, a professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Toronto, developed the portfolio diet in the early 2000s. He explained the approach by comparing it to financial investments:
"You're spreading out your risks and benefits and trying to maximize your financial returns."
Health Benefits
Initial studies showed that the portfolio diet can reduce LDL (bad cholesterol) similarly to statins, cholesterol-lowering medications. However, these studies were short-term.
More recent, longer-term research found the diet is linked to a 14% lower risk of cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, and stroke.
Example Meal
- A typical breakfast could be oats topped with berries, seeds, and nuts.
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Author's Summary: The portfolio diet, a plant-based approach designed by Richard Jenkins, effectively lowers bad cholesterol and reduces cardiovascular risk by combining various heart-healthy foods.