American Heart Association Updates Dietary Guidance with Nine Key Steps for Lifelong Heart Health

The American Heart Association has released updated dietary guidance emphasizing that sustaining lifelong healthy eating patterns may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and other chronic health issues. The guidance comes at a critical time as about half of U.S. adults are living with some type of cardiovascular disease, driven in part by high rates of health factors including high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity that are often linked to poor dietary habits. More than half of adults and about 60% of children in the U.S. have unhealthy diets, which can contribute directly to poor health outcomes including deaths from cardiovascular disease.

The 2026 Dietary Guidance to Improve Cardiovascular Health: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association updates the Association's 2021 guidance with the latest evidence-based science aligned with reducing cardiovascular disease risk. Published in Circulation, the peer-reviewed flagship journal of the American Heart Association, the statement outlines nine key features of a heart-healthy dietary pattern: adjusting energy intake and expenditure to achieve a healthy body weight; eating plenty of vegetables and fruits; choosing whole grains over refined grains; selecting healthy protein sources primarily from plants; choosing unsaturated fats over saturated fats; opting for minimally processed foods instead of ultraprocessed foods; minimizing added sugars; choosing foods low in sodium; and limiting alcohol intake or not starting to drink.

"As a trusted source, the American Heart Association issues evidence-based dietary guidance about every five years, undertaking a complex review that evolves alongside emerging research," said Alice H. Lichtenstein, D.Sc., FAHA, volunteer chair of the scientific statement writing committee. "We did find that the science supporting this guidance has strengthened. The stronger body of evidence is driving a few nuanced, yet important, updates that ensure the guidance remains aligned with the most current and strongest science on diet and cardiovascular health."

The 2026 update provides more concise guidance focused specifically on what to eat for heart health, with emphasis on swapping unhealthy choices for healthier ones. Key updates include broader guidance on choosing food sources of unsaturated fat over saturated fat, recognition that most people consume more protein from meat than plants, and stronger emphasis on choosing minimally processed foods. The guidance also puts more emphasis on choosing foods low in sodium and includes more current information on the role of potassium-rich foods in controlling blood pressure.

According to the American Heart Association's 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, more than half of all U.S. adults currently have some type of cardiovascular disease. The Association projects that number will climb to 1 in 6 U.S. adults by 2050, driven by increased rates of health factors like high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes. Along with poor dietary habits, most people in the U.S. are not getting an adequate amount of physical activity, with only 1 in 4 U.S. adults and 1 in 5 youths meeting national recommendations for being physically active.

"These rates are alarming and reinforce that a lifetime of healthy eating is critical because high blood pressure and obesity are leading drivers of chronic disease and death," said Amit Khera, M.D., FAHA, volunteer vice-chair of the dietary guidance writing committee. "Intentional choices at all stages of life can make a big difference. Parents and other adults can support and model overall healthy behaviors for their children for a healthy start." Khera noted that as much as 80% of heart disease and stroke is preventable and that following the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 healthy lifestyle guidance can support those prevention efforts.

The guidance emphasizes flexibility and progress over perfection, designed to accommodate personal preferences, ethnic and religious practices, and varying life stages. "For healthy eating to be more attainable and sustainable, we recommend people focus on their overall eating pattern rather than specific nutrients or foods," Lichtenstein said. "This approach is actionable, something that can be modified as people pass through different life-stages, while still adhering to the 9 key features." The guidance recommends that children can begin following a heart-healthy dietary pattern starting at 1 year of age and that families play a crucial role in establishing healthy eating habits.

Beyond cardiovascular benefits, the heart-healthy dietary pattern also provides essential nutrients for most people, is rich in healthy fiber, helps limit dietary cholesterol, and keeps saturated fat to 10% or less of total daily calories. While specifically designed to improve cardiovascular health, the guidance is generally consistent with dietary recommendations for other conditions like type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, some cancers and brain health due to shared risk factors. The American Heart Association continues to address root causes of poor diets through initiatives including advocacy for front-of-pack nutrition labeling, discouraging consumption of sugary drinks, and increasing access to affordable, healthy foods in under-resourced communities through programs like the American Heart Association's Social Impact Funds.