XXIV. HEART ATTACK PREVENTION DIET
• Carbohydrates (sugars and starchy foods) such as bread or other flour products, potato, and rice to maintain normal body weight.
• Onions and garlic should be used, but use garlic powder, not garlic salt, which has a high sodium content (see Table 3).
• Alpha-linolenic acids found in walnuts and purslane are rich in alpha-linolenic acid and are strongly recommended.
Alpha-linolenic acid is a long-chain fatty acid, which is a significant component of the Cretan Mediterranean diet. Alpha-linolenic acid has an aspirin-like effect and reduces the stickiness of blood platelets and thus prevents clotting in arteries. A clinical study using an alpha-linolenic, acid-rich Mediterranean diet was reported in Lancet, June 1994. It is thought to be useful in decreasing recurrent heart attacks in patients following a first heart attack.
The Mediterranean type diet consists of root and green vegetables, more bread, fish, poultry, less beef, lamb, and pork and daily fruit, nuts, and olive oil. Butter was replaced by canola oil margarine with 5% alpha-linolenic acid added. The Mediterranean style diet is strongly recommended (see the chapters Dyslipidemia and Diets and Heart Disease).
The Cretans and Japanese have the lowest heart attack mortality in the world and have a high intake of alpha-linolenic acid. The source of alpha-linolenic acid for the Cretans included purslane and walnuts. Nuts that are also cardioprotective include almonds, walnuts, and hazelnuts.