Dietary advice to cardiovascular patients. A brief update for physicians

It is important, in our opinion, to provide physicians with a brief update of scientifically-sound evidence in preventive nutrition, to be employed in their everyday practice, since the latest scientific and clinical advances in this area are generally not well known. Here, we review the most recent evidence in support of an optimal cardio-protective diet, and we identify the need to focus mainly on protective food which should be part of such diet, rather than on nutrients with negative effects to be limited (salt, saturated fats, simple sugars). We conclude that, to favor patient compliance, it is also necessary to underscore indications on the topics for which there is convincing and coherent literature, leaving other less-explored aspects to individual preferences.