While Millennials are zeroing in on functional foods for anti-inflammatory benefits; Boomers–and now aging Gen-Xers—seek the perfect diet to keep their hearts young. In its August 2016 Data Brief, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reported that heart disease remains the No. 1 killer in America.
After three decades of decline, the number of deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD) rose by 3% from 2011 to 2014. This rise is “something to be concerned about,” says Robert Anderson, PhD, chief of NCHS and coauthor of the brief. Anderson says health professionals must continue to promote healthy eating and activity, and to encourage patients to reduce risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure.