ACC Nutrition Statement Supports Plant-Rich Diets and Limits on Ultra-Processed Foods

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has issued a scientific statement concluding that evidence supports dietary patterns centered on minimally processed plant foods, with limited intake of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), to reduce cardiovascular risk. The statement was published online September 30, 2026, in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

The writing committee noted that nutritional interventions remain underused in cardiovascular disease (CVD) care because of limitations in education, time, and actionability. The statement reviews evidence on macronutrients, micronutrients, dietary patterns, UPFs, and nutrition-based interventions.

The authors report consistent evidence supporting replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats, increasing fiber and whole grains, and reducing sodium and UPFs, particularly sugar-sweetened beverages and processed meats. Mediterranean, DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), vegetarian, and other plant-rich patterns have shown favorable effects on blood pressure, lipids, glycemic control, and body weight and are consistently associated with lower rates of CVD and mortality.

The committee stated that long-chain omega-3 fatty acids are best obtained through regular fish consumption, that routine omega-3 supplementation is not recommended for primary prevention of CVD, and that alcohol should not be initiated for cardiovascular benefit. For patients receiving glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, the authors said nutritional counseling should emphasize adequate intake of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

The statement found the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans broadly aligned with evidence on minimally processed foods and UPFs but said its higher protein targets and greater emphasis on full-fat animal foods are not fully aligned with evidence supporting replacement of saturated fats with unsaturated fats, particularly from plant sources. The authors noted that randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with hard clinical endpoints are often infeasible in nutrition research, so dietary recommendations rest on the totality of evidence, including short-term RCTs, prospective cohort studies, and mechanistic studies.

Source: Hu FB, Beleslin B, Blaha MJ, Kris-Etherton PM, Seligman HK, Williams KA Sr. Food and health: nutrition for prevention and management of cardiovascular disease: 2026 ACC scientific statement: a report of the American College of Cardiology. J Am Coll Cardiol. Published online September 30, 2026. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2026.08.025