DALLAS, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Diets rich in protein and healthful fats control blood pressure and boost so-called good cholesterol better than high-carbohydrate fare, researchers say.
The study examined human testing of three variations of the so-called DASH -- Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension -- diet. Each variation emphasized protein, healthful fats or carbohydrates, The Washington Post reported.
It found diets with a greater proportion of healthful fats, such as olive oil, and protein, such as beans, were more effective than a diet high in carbohydrates.
"If they follow a diet similar to that in the study, it may give them a chance to lower their risk of heart disease," said Edward Roccella of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. "And for some this might mean taking fewer drugs."
The study was presented at the Dallas meeting of the American Heart Association and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
