AHA Updates Heart Diet Guidelines Differing from Federal Advice

The American Heart Association released updated dietary guidelines on Tuesday, recommending a heart-healthy eating pattern that prioritizes plant-based proteins, unsaturated fats and low- or nonfat dairy products, in a move that highlights growing differences with the federal government's nutrition advice issued earlier this year.

The guidelines, published in the journal Circulation, outline nine key steps to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, which affects more than half of U.S. adults and causes about 900,000 deaths annually. They advise consuming plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains; choosing plant sources like legumes, nuts and seeds over red meat; and selecting lean cuts of meat in small portions if consumed at all. The association also calls for replacing saturated fats from animal sources and tropical oils with unsaturated fats from nontropical plant oils such as olive, canola and soybean. Additional recommendations include limiting added sugars, salt, ultraprocessed foods and alcohol, while balancing calorie intake with physical activity. The guidance emphasizes starting these habits as early as age 1, noting that cardiovascular risks can begin in childhood.