A large-scale survey of more than 370,000 U.S. adults has found a consistent pattern: people with hypertension, high cholesterol, a prior heart attack, or coronary heart disease tend to eat whole fresh fruit noticeably less often than those without such diagnoses, according to infohub.kz.
Researchers note that whole fruits are rich in fiber and a range of important nutrients that support normal blood vessel function and reduce the likelihood of chronic conditions. That is why regularly including such foods in the diet is described by experts as one of the simplest ways to care for the heart.
A different picture emerged when analyzing consumption of 100% juices. No clear conclusion could be drawn here: participants with high cholesterol drank juices less often than others, while patients who had suffered a heart attack, by contrast, consumed them more often. Scientists emphasize that juices often lack beneficial plant fiber and may contain excess sugar, and therefore are not a full substitute for fresh fruit.
The authors also point to broader alarming statistics: about 80% of the population does not eat the recommended daily amount of fruit. At the same time, the researchers make an important caveat — the survey recorded only the frequency of food intake, not exact portion sizes. Nevertheless, in their view, even simply adding whole fruits to the daily menu remains an effective step for supporting cardiovascular health.