Linking in with Australia's heart week, held in May each year, we're re-releasing a popular episode on how to improve heart health, through diet and lifestyle.

Heart Week, which was held from 5-11 May, was a reminder for us all to take stock of our heart health and to prioritise looking after our hearts.

We spoke with Associate Professor David Colquhoun about practical ways to help reduce the risk of heart disease – one of the leading causes of death in Australia.

Whether you're looking to make changes yourself or to recommend changes as a health professional to your clients or patients, our conversation covers the benefits of the Mediterranean diet, findings from the renowned PREDIMED study, and the role of healthy fats found in foods like nuts.

We also discuss the impact of exercise, smoking, and stress on heart health.

Access episode webpage: https://www.nutsforlife.com.au/resource/lifestyle-tips-for-preventing-cvd-re-release/

About today's guest

Associate Professor David Colquhoun is a cardiologist who has been in private practice in Queensland for more than 35 years.

He has been involved in clinical practice and research in the fields of cardiology, lipids, nutrition, diabetes, obesity, nutraceutical and psychological aspects of heart disease. His private clinical research unit, Core Research Group, is currently active in 17 trials.

A/Prof Colquhoun is on the Consultant of Consultant Specialists for the Australian Medical Association, a board member of the National Heart Foundation of Australia, and the outgoing Chair of the Preventive Cardiology Council of the Cardiac Society of Australian and New Zealand.

Supporting resources

Mediterranean diet, traditional risk factors, and the rate of cardiovascular complications after myocardial infarction: Final report of the Lyon Diet Heart Study

https://doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.99.6.779

The PREDIMED study

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2530016417300022?via%3Dihub

Tree nut and peanut consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2161831323003095?via%3Dihub

Effects of a macadamia nut enriched diet on serum lipids and lipoproteins compared to a low fat diet

https://researchprofiles.canberra.edu.au/en/publications/effects-of-a-macadamia-nut-enriched-diet-on-serum-lipids-and-lipo

Effect of nut consumption on blood lipids: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0939475324003909

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Host: Belinda Neville

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