Researchers wanted to see if giving people free groceries could help them eat healthier after a heart attack. They gave 309 people recovering from heart problems either regular care, groceries high in healthy fats, or groceries high in fiber for 12 weeks. The people who got high-fiber groceries ate less salt even months after the program ended, which is good for heart health. The healthy fat group also ate less salt by the end of the year. This shows that providing free, healthy groceries might be a simple way to help heart patients make better food choices long-term.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether giving people free groceries with healthy fats or lots of fiber would help them eat less salt and more potassium after having a heart attack
  • Who participated: 309 adults who had recently experienced a heart attack, divided into three equal groups: one got regular care only, one got regular care plus groceries with healthy fats, and one got regular care plus high-fiber groceries
  • Key finding: People who received high-fiber groceries ate about 350 mg less salt per day after 12 months compared to those who didn’t get groceries. The healthy fat group also ate less salt by the end of the year. These improvements lasted even after the free groceries stopped.
  • What it means for you: If you’re recovering from a heart attack, getting access to free healthy groceries might help you naturally eat less salt without having to think about it as much. This could be especially helpful because eating less salt is important for heart health. However, this was studied in a specific group of people, so talk to your doctor about what’s best for your situation.

The Research Details

This was a carefully designed study where researchers randomly assigned 309 people recovering from heart attacks into three groups. One group continued with their normal care, another got normal care plus free groceries focused on healthy fats (like olive oil and nuts), and the third got normal care plus free groceries high in fiber (like beans and whole grains). All three groups kept food diaries so researchers could track exactly what they ate. They measured sodium and potassium intake at the start, after 12 weeks when the free groceries stopped, and then again at 3 months and 12 months later.

The researchers chose this approach because it’s one of the strongest ways to test if something actually works. By randomly assigning people to groups, they made sure the groups were similar at the start, so any differences in eating habits were likely due to the groceries, not other factors. Following people for a full year after the program ended helped them see if the benefits lasted or if people went back to old eating habits.

This study design is important because it shows real-world results. Many people struggle to eat healthier even when they know they should, especially after a serious health event like a heart attack. By providing actual groceries instead of just advice, researchers could see if removing barriers to healthy eating actually changes what people eat. The long follow-up period is particularly valuable because it shows whether people maintain these healthier habits after the free groceries end.

This study has several strengths: it included a good number of participants (309), randomly assigned them to groups, and followed them for a full year. All participants kept food diaries, which is a reliable way to track eating. However, the study only looked at people recovering from heart attacks, so results might not apply to everyone. Also, people who volunteer for studies like this might be more motivated to eat healthy than the general population, which could affect the results.

What the Results Show

The most important finding was that people receiving high-fiber groceries ate significantly less salt during the follow-up period. Specifically, they ate about 257 mg less salt per day at 3 months and 357 mg less salt per day at 12 months compared to people who didn’t get free groceries. To put this in perspective, the recommended daily salt intake is about 2,300 mg, so this represents a meaningful reduction.

The healthy fat group also reduced their salt intake, but this benefit appeared later—only showing up at the 12-month mark with a reduction of about 342 mg per day. This suggests that the high-fiber approach might work more quickly, while the healthy fat approach takes longer to show benefits.

For potassium intake, only the high-fiber group showed an increase during the 12-week program when they were receiving the groceries (about 279 mg more per day). However, this increase didn’t continue after the program ended. Potassium is important for heart health, so this temporary increase is positive, though it didn’t last long-term.

An interesting pattern emerged: the benefits for sodium reduction actually improved or stayed strong after the free groceries ended, rather than disappearing. This suggests that people may have learned new eating habits during the 12 weeks that they continued even after the program stopped. The fact that the high-fiber group maintained lower sodium intake for a full year is particularly encouraging because it shows lasting behavior change.

Previous research has shown that eating more fiber and healthy fats is good for heart health, but most studies just tell people what to eat. This study is unique because it actually provided the groceries, removing the barrier of cost and availability. The results align with other research showing that making healthy foods accessible and convenient helps people eat better. The sodium reduction is especially important because high salt intake is a major risk factor for heart disease, and this study shows a practical way to help people reduce it.

This study only included people who had recently experienced a heart attack, so we don’t know if these results would apply to people with other health conditions or people trying to eat healthier in general. The study was conducted in a specific location and time period, which might affect how the results apply elsewhere. Additionally, people who volunteer for nutrition studies might be more motivated than average, so real-world results could be different. The study also relied on people keeping accurate food diaries, which can sometimes be inaccurate. Finally, while 309 people is a decent sample size, it’s not huge, so some of the findings have wider ranges of uncertainty.

The Bottom Line

If you’re recovering from a heart attack or have been advised to reduce salt intake, having access to free or subsidized healthy groceries appears to help you eat less salt naturally. The high-fiber approach seems to work better and faster than the healthy fat approach. However, this should be combined with other medical advice from your doctor, not used as a replacement. The evidence is moderately strong (from a well-designed study), but more research in different populations would be helpful.

This research is most relevant for people recovering from heart attacks or those with heart disease who struggle to eat healthier. It’s also important for healthcare systems and policymakers considering whether to provide free healthy groceries as part of cardiac rehabilitation programs. If you have other health conditions or take medications that affect sodium or potassium intake, talk to your doctor before making major dietary changes. People without heart disease might still benefit from eating less salt and more fiber, but this study doesn’t directly address that.

The sodium reduction appeared gradually—it was noticeable at 3 months and stronger at 12 months. The potassium increase happened quickly during the 12-week program but didn’t last. If you were to receive similar grocery support, you might expect to see changes in your eating habits within a few weeks, but the full benefits for sodium reduction might take several months to become apparent.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily sodium intake in milligrams and potassium intake in milligrams. Set a goal of reducing sodium by 250-350 mg per day (roughly 10-15% reduction) and aim to maintain potassium intake above 3,500 mg per day. Log these values weekly to see trends over 3-month periods.
  • Use the app to identify high-fiber and healthy fat foods you enjoy, then create a shopping list focused on these items. Set reminders to log meals within 2 hours of eating to improve accuracy. Create a ’low-sodium swaps’ list in the app showing alternatives to your current high-salt foods, and track which swaps you successfully implement.
  • Check your sodium and potassium trends every 4 weeks rather than daily, since meaningful changes take time. Compare your 12-week average to your baseline, then your 3-month average, and finally your 12-month average to see if improvements are sustained. Share these trends with your healthcare provider during regular check-ups to monitor how dietary changes affect your heart health markers.

This research is for educational purposes and should not replace medical advice from your healthcare provider. If you have had a heart attack or have heart disease, any significant changes to your diet—especially regarding sodium and potassium—should be discussed with your doctor or a registered dietitian first. Some people with certain kidney conditions or taking specific medications need to be careful about potassium intake. Always consult with your healthcare team before making major dietary changes, especially if you take blood pressure medications or have other health conditions.