ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an overview of the recent science on whole foods, whole food patterns, and food constituents as they relate to cardiovascular disease (CVD), with a focus on nutrigenomic and epigenetic influences whenever available. Nutrigenomic and epigenetic influences relate to how nutrients can modify gene expression, either directly or through changes in the DNA conformation. Diet-induced “low-grade” metabolic acidosis has been proposed to play an important role in the development of cardiovascular and other chronic diseases. A higher intake of fruits and vegetables has consistently been associated with a lower incidence of CVD in a dose-dependent fashion. A number of the natural plant foods that comprise healthful dietary patterns have been shown to have particularly pronounced cardiovascular health benefits. Personalization of nutrition along with relevant lifestyle factors for CVD, such as physical activity, will ultimately produce the most beneficial health outcomes.
