# How Berries Can Boost Your Heart Health: A New Study
Berries are delicious and nutritious, but did you know they can also help lower your risk of heart disease and stroke? A new study by Li Zhang and colleagues from the Pennsylvania State University and the Hershey Medical Center has investigated the epidemiology of berry consumption and its association with diet quality and cardiometabolic risk factors in US adults.
The researchers analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a large-scale survey that collects information on the health and nutrition status of the US population. They included data from 2003 to 2018, covering 24,808 participants aged 20 years or older.
They found that only 14.7% of US adults consumed berries on any given day, and the average intake was 35.7 g per day. Women, older adults, non-Hispanic whites, college graduates, and those with higher incomes were more likely to consume berries than their counterparts.
The study also revealed that berry consumers had higher diet quality scores than non-consumers, indicating that they ate more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and dairy products, and less added sugars, sodium, and saturated fats. Berry consumers also had lower levels of blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, and inflammation markers than non-consumers, after adjusting for potential confounders.
The authors concluded that berry consumption was associated with better diet quality and lower cardiometabolic risk factors in US adults. They suggested that increasing berry intake could be a simple and effective strategy to improve cardiovascular health and prevent chronic diseases.
So next time you're looking for a snack or a dessert, why not grab some berries? They're not only tasty, but also good for your heart!
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