Heart health: How a produce prescription for fruits, vegetables can help

A doctor-written "produce prescription" for fruits and vegetables may be beneficial for people at risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a study published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. The study found that people who received a "produce prescription" for six months reduced their body mass index, blood sugar, and blood pressure levels and increased the amount of fruits and vegetables in their diet. Food insecurity impacts health through various pathways, including overall dietary quality, stress, anxiety, mental health, and tradeoffs between food and other basic needs. The study examined data from 22 produce prescription programs across 12 states between 2014 and 2020, involving 3,881 participants, 2,064 adults, and 1,817 children, from clinics serving low-income neighborhoods. Participants were given an average of $63 a month to buy fruits and vegetables. A study has found that a produce prescription program can improve health outcomes by increasing the intake of fruits and vegetables, reducing high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. Participants were also less likely to report food insecurity. The study, led by Dr. Eugene Pasquale, the medical director of the Heart Failure, Heart Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support Program at Keck Medicine of USC in California, found that the use of produce prescriptions not only increased the intake of fruits and vegetables but also improved health status of adults and children with improved blood pressure, body mass index, and diabetes markers. Food insecurity, the lack of access to or affordability of healthy foods, affects health and wellbeing. In 2020, 13.8 million Trusted Source households in the US were food insecure. A new study found that over half of these households reported experiencing food insecurity. Research suggests that Trusted Source food insecurity is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Dr. Shannon, an interventional cardiologist at The University of Kansas Health System, believes health disparities are an ongoing challenge in cardiovascular disease and calls for a change in the medical field's approach to handling the problem. The American Heart Association recommends a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy proteins like nuts, fish, or lean meats, and limiting added sugar, processed foods, and salt. Poor diet is the leading cause of illness in the US and is associated with over half a million deaths annually. Dr. Summing Ni, a cardiologist and limnologist at Memorial Care Heart and Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in California, believes that having a produce prescription can help break down barriers to purchasing and cooking with fresh fruits and vegetables. He explains that the cost of preparing vegetables can be intimidating and difficult to commit to when trying to feed a family on a limited budget. A produce prescription allows individuals to incorporate healthy fruits and vegetables into their diet without worrying about the cost, and they can learn how to use these fruits and vegetables at home. A study published in Frontiers of Oral Health suggests that a simple oral rinse can predict the risk of heart disease. The researchers evaluated younger adults without periodontal problems to determine if lower levels of oral inflammation could be clinically relevant to cardiovascular health.