Are Your Patients Eating Enough for Their Heart? Most Are…

Are Your Patients Eating Enough for Their Heart? Most Are Not, New Research Explains Why Published: June 2026 | Category: Cardiology, Nutrition, Preventive Medicine | TALMedora Editorial Doctors routinely advise patients to eat more fruits and vegetables for heart health. But new research suggests that this advice, while correct, may not be specific enough. The type of fruits and vegetables chosen matters just as much as the quantity consumed. A new study published in the journal Food and Function tracked the diets of 30,000 participants across the UK and USA and found that most people are significantly falling short of consuming adequate flavanols, even when following standard healthy eating guidelines. Flavanols are naturally occurring plant compounds found in certain fruits, vegetables and drinks. Earlier research from the large COSMOS randomised controlled trial established that consuming around 500 mg of flavanols daily can reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular disease by up to 27%. The problem: most people are nowhere near that 500 mg daily target despite eating what they consider a healthy diet. Flavanols belong to the polyphenol family of plant compounds. They support heart health through multiple pathways including improving blood vessel function, reducing inflammation, lowering blood pressure and supporting healthy circulation. The key insight from this research is t