Researchers studied nearly 3,800 people with heart failure from around the world to see how different foods affected their health. They found that eating more beans (legumes) and vegetables was linked to better outcomes, meaning fewer hospitalizations and longer lives. Interestingly, eating more refined grains like white bread and processed cereals was connected to worse outcomes. However, other foods like fish, chicken, and nuts didn’t show clear benefits or harms. This research suggests that for people managing heart failure, focusing on plant-based foods—especially beans and vegetables—might be an important part of their treatment plan.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether eating certain foods helps or hurts people who have heart failure, and whether following a healthy eating pattern improves their health outcomes.
  • Who participated: 3,798 people diagnosed with heart failure from 25 different countries. Researchers asked them about their eating habits using food questionnaires.
  • Key finding: People who ate more beans and legumes had about a 15% lower chance of dying or being hospitalized for heart failure compared to those who ate very few beans. People who ate more refined grains (like white bread) had worse outcomes. Other foods showed neutral effects.
  • What it means for you: If you have heart failure, adding more beans, lentils, and vegetables to your meals might help you stay healthier and reduce hospital visits. However, this is one study, and you should always talk to your doctor before making major diet changes.

The Research Details

This was a large international study that followed people with heart failure and tracked what they ate and what happened to their health over time. Researchers used food frequency questionnaires—basically detailed surveys asking people how often they ate different foods—to understand eating patterns. They then looked at whether people who ate more of certain foods had better or worse health outcomes like hospitalizations or death.

The study included 3,798 people from 25 countries who were part of a larger heart failure registry. Researchers examined 11 different common foods (beans, vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, refined grains, fish, chicken, red meat, eggs, and dairy) to see which ones were connected to better health outcomes. They also created an overall “healthy diet score” to see if following a generally healthy eating pattern helped.

This type of study is called observational research, meaning researchers watched what people naturally ate rather than telling some people to eat certain foods and others to eat different foods.

Understanding which foods help or hurt people with heart failure is important because doctors don’t have clear guidelines about what heart failure patients should eat. This large international study provides real-world evidence about food choices and health outcomes, which can help doctors give better advice to their patients.

This study has several strengths: it included nearly 3,800 people from many different countries, making results more likely to apply to different populations; it tracked real health outcomes like hospitalizations and deaths; and it examined many different foods. However, the study relied on people remembering what they ate, which can be inaccurate. The study also couldn’t prove that eating beans directly caused better health—only that people who ate more beans tended to have better outcomes. Other lifestyle factors not measured in the study could explain some results.

What the Results Show

The main finding was that people with heart failure who ate more beans and legumes had significantly better outcomes. Specifically, those eating 0.1 to 3 servings of beans per day had about 15% lower risk of dying or being hospitalized compared to those eating less than 1 serving per day. This was a meaningful difference in a serious condition.

Vegetable intake also showed benefits, with higher consumption linked to lower risk of adverse outcomes. This makes sense because vegetables are nutrient-rich and low in sodium, which is important for heart failure patients.

Refined grains—like white bread, white rice, and many processed cereals—showed the opposite pattern. People eating more refined grains had higher risk of bad outcomes. This likely relates to how refined grains affect blood sugar and inflammation.

Surprisingly, other foods didn’t show clear benefits or harms. Fish, chicken, nuts, whole grains, fruits, eggs, and dairy products showed neutral associations, meaning eating more or less of these didn’t significantly change health outcomes in this study.

The researchers also looked at an overall healthy eating pattern using a scoring system called the modified Alternative Healthy Eating Index (mAHEI). Interestingly, this overall healthy diet score didn’t show a strong connection to better outcomes, even though individual foods like beans and vegetables did. This suggests that specific foods might matter more than following a general ‘healthy diet’ pattern for heart failure patients.

Previous research in the general population has shown that beans, vegetables, and whole grains are protective against heart disease. This study confirms that beans and vegetables appear beneficial for people who already have heart failure. However, the neutral findings for fish and nuts differ from some previous studies suggesting these foods help heart health. This may be because people with heart failure have different nutritional needs than people trying to prevent heart disease.

The study relied on people remembering and accurately reporting what they ate, which is often inaccurate. The study couldn’t prove that eating beans caused better outcomes—only that people who ate more beans tended to do better. Other factors like exercise, medications, stress, and sleep weren’t fully accounted for and could explain some results. The study was also observational, not a controlled experiment where some people are told to eat beans and others aren’t. Results may not apply equally to all populations since the study included people from many countries with different diets and healthcare systems.

The Bottom Line

For people with heart failure: Consider adding more beans, lentils, and vegetables to your meals as part of your overall treatment plan. Reduce refined grains like white bread and processed cereals when possible. These changes appear to be associated with better health outcomes. Confidence level: Moderate—this is good evidence, but more research is needed. Always consult your doctor or a heart failure specialist before making significant dietary changes, especially regarding sodium intake, which is crucial for heart failure management.

This research is most relevant for people diagnosed with heart failure who are looking to improve their health through diet. It may also interest family members helping care for someone with heart failure. People without heart failure can still benefit from eating more beans and vegetables, but this study specifically addresses heart failure patients. Those with severe kidney disease or other conditions affecting bean digestion should discuss bean intake with their doctor.

Health benefits from dietary changes typically take weeks to months to become noticeable. You might feel better or have fewer symptoms within 4-8 weeks of consistently eating more beans and vegetables. However, major improvements in hospitalization rates and survival would take longer to measure—typically months to years.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily servings of beans/legumes and vegetables consumed. Set a goal of at least 1 serving of beans daily and 2-3 servings of vegetables daily. Log actual servings eaten and note any changes in energy levels, shortness of breath, or swelling.
  • Use the app to plan meals featuring beans (black beans, chickpeas, lentils) and vegetables. Create a weekly meal plan with at least 3 bean-based meals. Set reminders to add vegetables to lunch and dinner. Track refined grain intake and gradually replace white bread with alternatives.
  • Weekly review of bean and vegetable intake against goals. Monthly check-ins on heart failure symptoms (shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling). Quarterly assessment of overall dietary pattern and correlation with symptom changes. Share data with healthcare provider at regular appointments.

This research provides important information about diet and heart failure, but it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you have heart failure, consult your cardiologist or heart failure specialist before making significant dietary changes. Heart failure management requires individualized treatment plans that may include specific sodium restrictions, fluid management, and medications. Some people with heart failure may have specific dietary restrictions based on kidney function or other conditions. Always discuss dietary changes with your healthcare team, especially regarding bean intake and sodium content, which are critical for heart failure management.