Much research confirms that low intake of B vitamins, notably folic acid, is a precursor to heart disease in both sexes. Numerous studies find fish eaters have less heart disease. Most experts recommend eating fish two or three times a week, especially fatty sardines, salmon and mackerel. One recent Harvard study noted that eating fish every day did not offer more benefit. Recent research credits flavonoids with lowering heart disease risk, chiefly by thinning the blood and preventing cholesterol damage.
Flavonoids are a primary reason that red wine appears to lower the risk of heart disease.
Restrict intake to one or two glasses a day. Teetotalers should not take up drinking as an antidote to heart disease. Cut back on bad fats. The No. 1 enemy of arteries remains saturated animal fat, as in meat, cheese, butter and milk. It raises cholesterol and encourages clots.