HOUSTON (Nov. 3, 2023) — A new study published in Circulation suggests that the Portfolio Diet—a plant-based eating plan low in saturated fat—may be most effective at lowering cholesterol.

Prevention magazine recently consulted Alexander Postalian, MD, a cardiologist with The Texas Heart Institute Center for Cardiovascular Care, for his expertise on this new diet and why it is recommended for heart health.

The Portfolio diet focuses on foods that are linked to supporting healthy cholesterol levels. The diet consists of four portfolios that individuals can choose from as part of a heart-healthy eating plan:

• Plant-based proteins, such as soy/tofu and other legumes
• Foods with viscous fiber, such as oats, barley, berries, apples, and citrus fruit
• Nuts and seeds—sources of good fat
• Phytosterols that reduce cholesterol absorption through fortified foods, like yogurt, or supplements.

The Portfolio diet favors the use of foods known to be heart-healthy and discourages the use of foods known to contribute to heart disease (such as animal fat and simple carbohydrates), says Dr. Postalian. “While the specifics of the diet can appear novel, there is a lot of overlap with existing ‘healthy-habit’ diets such as the Mediterranean diet [and DASH diet],” he notes.

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