Statement Highlights:
Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT/5 a.m. ET, Tuesday, March 31 , 2026
DALLAS, March 31, 2026 — More than half of adults and about 60% of children in the U.S. have unhealthy diets, which can contribute to higher rates of health factors such as high blood pressure and obesity , and lead directly to poor health outcomes including deaths from cardiovascular disease and other chronic conditions, according to the American Heart Association . Following a lifelong healthy eating pattern may significantly reduce risk and is the basis for an updated scientific statement reflecting the latest nutrition guidance published today in Circulation , the peer-reviewed, flagship journal of the American Heart Association, a global force changing the future of health for all.
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 in evidence-based science aligned with reducing cardiovascular disease risk, improving quality of life and saving lives. The statement outlines nine key features of a heart-healthy dietary pattern:
“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. Our 2026 guidance may look familiar, as it hasn’t shifted greatly from the 2021 recommendations,” said Alice H. Lichtenstein, D.Sc., FAHA, volunteer chair of the scientific statement writing committee and senior scientist and leader of the Diet & Chronic Disease Prevention Directive at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston. “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 dietary guidance is a more concise statement focused specifically on what to eat for heart health. The most recent evidence affirms the key features and shifts emphasis to swapping out unhealthy choices for healthier ones. It highlights sources of healthy protein and unsaturated fat and reinforces the importance of adhering to a heart healthy dietary pattern throughout the life course.
Specifics include:
Progress over perfection
The 2026 dietary guidance focuses on the specific relationship between your health and what you eat. However, Lichtenstein said it’s important to recognize this is neither prescriptive nor restrictive. It is intentionally designed to provide flexibility in customizing a healthy dietary pattern to accommodate personal preferences, ethnic and religious practices, personal needs and budgets and varying life stages. She adds that this is the best approach to encourage lifelong adherence.
“For healthy eating to be more attainable and sustainable, we recommend people focus on their overall eating pattern rather than specific nutrients or foods. This approach is actionable, something that can be modified as people pass through different life-stages, while still adhering to the 9 key features,” she said. “The guidance applies to wherever you eat: at home, school, work, restaurants or in your community. You want to strive for progress rather than perfection. Every time you choose to make a swap for a healthier alternative, you’re making a step toward a healthier life.”
A lifetime of healthy eating: why it matters
Lichtenstein notes that what’s most critical is making healthier choices that can be sustained for a lifetime.
“Cardiovascular disease begins early in life; even prenatal factors can contribute to increased risk in children as they grow. So, it’s important that healthy eating patterns are adopted in childhood and continue throughout the entire lifespan,” she said. “The best way to do that is for adults to role model heart healthy eating patterns inside and outside the home.”
The 2026 updated guidance recommends:
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.
This combination of unhealthy eating and physical inactivity is also likely to drive high rates of overweight and obesity among adults and kids.
“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. As we look at our work to improve the health of all people, it’s critical to understand the need for earlier prevention efforts,” said Amit Khera, M.D., FAHA, volunteer vice-chair of the dietary guidance writing committee and the director of preventive cardiology and clinical chief of cardiology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. “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. Life’s Essential 8 is a set of four health behaviors (eat better, be more active, quit tobacco and get healthy sleep) and four health factors (manage weight, control cholesterol, manage blood sugar and manage blood pressure) that are key measures for improving and maintaining cardiovascular health.
“Integrating the elements of the 2026 dietary guidance into your everyday life is an excellent first step toward reducing — and importantly preventing — the risk of heart disease and stroke for you and your family for years to come,” he said.
Beyond heart health
The 2026 dietary guidance provides additional benefits beyond support for cardiovascular health.
A heart-healthy dietary pattern also provides a combination of foods and beverages that:
While the updated guidance is specifically designed to improve cardiovascular health, it is generally consistent with dietary recommendations for other conditions like type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, some cancers and brain health. This is largely due to shared risk factors that impact both physical and cognitive health, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, excess weight and reduced kidney function — all impacted by dietary intake.
“What you put in your body is going to significantly impact how it performs and changes as you age,” Lichtenstein said. “A healthy dietary pattern can support lifelong health and well-being beyond cardiovascular health.”
Addressing the issue
The American Heart Association continues to aggressively address the root causes of poor diets, including food insecurity, through evidence‑based policy advocacy, community investment and health care innovation. Specific initiatives include:
“Together, these efforts complement the Association’s new dietary guidance by helping ensure more people can consistently access and benefit from heart‑healthy foods,” Khera said.
To learn more about eating for your heart and brain health, visit heart.org/healthydiet and talk to your health care provider about what will work best for you.
This scientific statement was prepared by a volunteer writing group on behalf of the American Heart Association. American Heart Association scientific statements promote greater awareness about cardiovascular diseases and stroke issues and help facilitate informed health care decisions. Scientific statements outline what is currently known about a topic and what areas need additional research. While scientific statements inform the development of guidelines, they do not make treatment recommendations. American Heart Association guidelines provide the Association’s official clinical practice recommendations.
Co-authors are: Cheryl A.M. Anderson, Ph.D., M.P.H., FAHA; Lawrence J. Appel, M.D., M.P.H., FAHA; Dana M. DeSilva, Ph.D., R.D.; Christopher Gardner, Ph.D., FAHA; Frank B. Hu, M.D., Ph.D., FAHA; Daniel W. Jones, M.D., FAHA; Kristina S. Petersen, Ph.D., FAHA. Authors’ disclosures are listed in the manuscript.
The Association receives more than 85% of its revenue from sources other than corporations. These sources include contributions from individuals, foundations and estates, as well as investment earnings and revenue from the sale of our educational materials. Corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations to the Association. The Association has strict policies to prevent any donations from influencing its science content and policy positions. Overall financial information is available here .
More than 8 in 10 (82%) U.S. adults say they are confident in the American Heart Association to provide trustworthy information related to public health, according to a recent Annenberg Policy Center poll . The Association ranked second only to an individual’s personal health care provider.
Additional Resources:
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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org , Facebook , X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
Circulation