The Portfolio Diet Could Be the Key to Better Heart Health

You Should Know: If you’re thinking about making some healthier changes after the holidays, you might want to consider a new eating plan that’s suddenly getting a lot of attention. The idea behind the portfolio diet is that you build your meals the way you’d build a good investment portfolio by adding a mix of foods that work together to lower cholesterol and protect your heart.

Going Deeper: The portfolio diet was created by nutrition researcher Dr. David Jenkins at the University of Toronto. Instead of restricting certain foods, it’s all about adding more wholesome foods packed with fiber, plant-based protein, and healthy fats. In a recent study of more than 210,000 people, those who stuck closest to the plan had a lower risk of heart disease and better cholesterol levels.

Takeaway: The portfolio diet is more flexible and sustainable than restrictive plans like keto or paleo.  Plus, you don’t have to track every bite to experience benefits because making small changes like adding avocado to your tacos or sprinkling nuts on your salad can still help lower cholesterol.

Bottom Line: Adding more plants to your diet is an investment in feeling better and living longer, and the payoff could be a stronger, healthier heart.