Diet is the biggest heart disease risk factor people can control

Diet is one of the most important factors people can change to help prevent heart disease, cardiologist Eno-Martin Lotman told Vikerraadio, ERR reported. The Estonian Society of Cardiology has proposed introducing Nutri-Score labels on the front of food packaging.

Cardiovascular disease remains Estonia’s leading cause of death, and diet directly affects several risk factors. People cannot change their age, sex or genetics, Lotman said, but they can make choices including exercising, getting enough sleep and avoiding tobacco products.

The society has written to the government proposing Nutri-Score, a system that gives a simple assessment of a product’s nutritional value. Lotman said it does not directly rate how healthy a food is. The system is voluntary for manufacturers, and the society wants companies to use it across all their products, rather than only on healthier options. Its aims are to influence both consumer choices and the products manufacturers make.

Lotman said shoppers may choose familiar or discounted products, or be influenced by colourful packaging and marketing terms such as “fitness” or “high protein”, which he said do not necessarily have an evidence-based basis. He said he looks for products with shorter ingredient lists and recommends preparing meals at home when possible, choosing vegetables and wholegrain products, avoiding pre-prepared foods and selecting foods with more fibre. He named plain water as the best choice of drink.

Nearly 7,500 people in Estonia die from heart disease each year. More than 375,000 people had a heart condition last year, according to the report.