By: Jean Johnson for Heart1
With a good 20 years of post-World War II excess under the American belt, the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs published the “Dietary Goals for the United States,” in 1977. At issue, according to Liz Wilson, professor at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, was the “overfed, but poorly nourished American public.”
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Matthew Sorrentino, MD, shares his method for making a delicious, heart-healthy spaghetti sauce:
“I was born and raised in the United States, but I have always loved Italian cuisine. One of my favorite meals is making a spaghetti sauce with eggplant in place of the ground meat that is typically used.”
“It is very easy to sauté a large number of vegetables – onions, eggplant, tomatoes, garlic, etc. – and serve over noodles,” said Sorrentino. “You won’t miss the meat after trying this.”
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Indeed, Wilson observed that the Senate report “linked some of the leading causes of death in America, such as stroke, cancer, and cardiovascular disease, with over-consumption of fat and refined sugar and under-consumption of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grain products.”
“The report noted that while in 1909, Americans received 40 percent of their daily caloric intake from fruits, vegetables, and grains;” Wilson continued, “in 1976 they were getting only 20 percent from plant-based sources.”
What a difference 75 years makes, not to mention a century. As we approach the year 2009, it is clear that problems identified in the 1970s persist – as evidenced by the current overweight and obesity epidemic. One study after another is emerging, including a recent study on walnuts and the Mediterranean diet. Yet, large numbers of Americans continue to be caught in the trap of chowing down in exceedingly unhealthy ways.
In order to help clarify both the walnut study and what health care providers are doing to educate their patients, we asked Matthew Sorrentino, MD, a preventive cardiologist and associate professor of medicine at the University of Chicago for his observations.
Heart1.com: First, can you summarize the walnut study for us?
Dr. Sorrentino: The walnut study compared walnuts to olive oil on endothelial function, which is a measure of the health of our arteries. Walnuts were found to have a benefit in preserving or improving function of the arteries that was not seen with the olive oil. Walnuts contain an omega-3 fat similar to fats found in fish, whereas olive oil is mostly a monounsaturated fat.
The authors of the study speculated that the omega-3 fat in the walnuts gave the benefit to the arteries. It has been shown previously that nuts including walnuts, and olive oil is linked to better cardiac outcomes and are recommended as a part of a well balanced diet. This study suggests one mechanism by which walnuts may help.
Heart1.com: So our tendency to jump on olive oil as a panacea has been misguided?
Dr. Sorrentino: Americans tend to want a quick thing that’s going to take no time, but really there is no one substance that can take the place of a well balanced diet, exercise, and avoiding risk factors like cigarette smoking. It’s the sum of all these that are going to give benefits, not one isolated item.
Heart1.com: And your thoughts on the Mediterranean diet?
Dr. Sorrentino: I’ve been a big advocate of the Mediterranean-type diet and found that it has good scientific validity. Also because it has a lot of choices and is not restrictive, usually people find it very satisfying. For most of my patients, it’s easy to use and get involved in.
Heart1.com: Is the medical profession making significant headway in helping patients adopt better nutritional habits?
Dr. Sorrentino: Twenty-six years ago when I went through school, there was no nutrition education, but now we feel it is extremely important and is a part of our medical school’s curriculum. Physicians need to make this message loud and clear to patients at every visit and need to take some time to individualize strategies that will help.
Heart1.com: Are there any signs that things are turning around?
Dr. Sorrentino: Although we see the obesity epidemic increasing in the country, I can tell you that in many practices the message is getting through. Patients have bought into the message and are changing their habits. So it’s not like it’s universally ignored. We are making headway; we just need to increase the number of people we reach.
