Southern-style diets linked to a higher risk of sudden cardiac death—Mediterranean diet has the opposite effect
Regularly eating a Southern-style diet full of added fats, fried foods, processed meats and sugar-sweetened beverages may lead to a higher risk of sudden cardiac death, according to new findings published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Staying closer to a Mediterranean diet that prioritizes whole foods, fruits and vegetables, however, can reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death.
“While this study was observational in nature, the results suggest that diet may be a modifiable risk factor for sudden cardiac death, and, therefore, diet is a risk factor that we have some control over,” lead author James M. Shikany, DrPH, a professor of medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said in a prepared statement. “Improving one’s diet – by eating a diet abundant in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fish such as the Mediterranean diet and low in fried foods, organ meats and processed meats, characteristics of the Southern-style dietary pattern, may decrease one’s risk for sudden cardiac death.”
Researchers tracked data from more than 21,000 adults aged 45 or older who participated in the REGARDS national research projects. Participants were enrolled from 2003 to 2007 and asked to complete an in-depth questionnaire focused on their eating habits. They were each contacted every six months for a check-in on their diet and cardiovascular health.
All participants were placed into one of five groups based on their eating patterns:
- Those who followed a Southern-style diet.
- Those who followed a “convenience” diet heavy on easy-to-make foods such as pasta and pizza.
- Those who followed a plant/fish-based diet high in fruits and vegetables.
- Those who followed a “sweets” diet heavy on added sugars, chocolate and sugar-sweetened breakfast foods.
- Those who followed an “alcohol and salad” diet that was heavy on beer, wine, liquor, green leafy vegetables and other salad toppings.
“All participants had some level of adherence to each pattern, but usually adhered more to some patterns and less to others,” Shikany said in the same statement. “For example, it would not be unusual for an individual who adheres highly to the Southern pattern to also adhere to the plant-based pattern, but to a much lower degree.”
Overall, the group found, study participants who primarily followed a Southern-style diet had a 46% higher risk of sudden cardiac death than participants who avoided this diet the most. Also, participants who closely followed a traditional Mediterranean diet had a 26% lower risk of sudden cardiac death than those who followed it the least.
“These findings support the notion that a healthier diet would prevent fatal cardiovascular disease and should encourage all of us to adopt a healthier diet as part of our lifestyles,” added Stephen Juraschek, MD, PhD, a member of the American Heart Association’s Nutrition Committee of the Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Council. “To the extent that they can, people should evaluate the number of servings of fruit and vegetables they consume each day and try to increase the number to at least 5-6 servings per day, as recommended by the American Heart Association. Optimal would be 8-9 servings per day.”
Read the full study here.
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Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.