Lean meat and low-fat dairy will not harm your heart

A LITTLE lean red meat, low-fat and fat-free dairy products, and vegetable oils are not harmful to your heart, scientists said.

But fad diets such as gluten free, antioxidant pills, juicing, and other trendy celebrityendorsed diets may be overrated and of little use.

In an analysis of nutrition studies and their ability to cut heart disease researchers concluded eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes were best.

Controversially, the review concluded red meat, fish and dairy were not all bad although eating eggs high in cholesterol should be restricted.

Nuts are also good, but should be eaten in moderation because they are packed with calories.

US scientists said we are what we eat and a healthy diet should be combined with exercise, getting enough sleep and not smoking.

While eggs have recently been given the all clear, the researchers said “it remains prudent to advise patients to significantly limit intake of dietary cholesterol in the form of eggs or any high cholesterol foods to as little as possible.”

The most heart-healthy oil is olive oil, but even then it should be used sparingly as it is still higher in calories.

Fruits and vegetables are the healthiest and most beneficial source of antioxidants to reduce heart-disease risk.

So US researchers said there was no compelling evidence adding high-dose antioxidant dietary supplements benefits heart health.

While juicing fruits and vegetables are heart-healthy, the process of juicing concentrates calories, which makes it is much easier to ingest too many.