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Are those trendy diet and health foods all hype when it comes to the heart? A review from the American College of Cardiology Nutrition & Lifestyle Workgroup of the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Council found a number actually pan out.

Fermented foods, like kimchi and yogurt, and seaweed don't have sufficient evidence yet, but emerging data suggest improvements in cardiovascular disease and risk factors, Andrew Freeman, MD, of National Jewish Health in Denver, and colleagues .

The recommended list with evidence of cardiovascular benefits included:

• Mushrooms
• Legumes
• A moderate coffee habit
• Tea
• Modest alcohol intake for drinkers
• Vitamin B12, albeit "not in excess, and when dietary deficiencies are present"

Omega-3 fatty acids from plant or marine sources were recommended too, although the group noted that nonsupplement forms are probably best supported and that fish sources have some environmental and toxin concerns. Notably, a s looking only at longer-term randomized controlled trials found little or no effect on mortality or cardiovascular health; those were based largely on supplement trials.

Dairy products are more controversial, with mixed findings across the category and a paucity of intervention studies free from industry support, they noted. Guidelines recommend that some amount of fat-free and low-fat dairy products can be part of a heart healthy diet, but full-fat dairy products are a top source of "harmful" saturated fat and sodium for Americans.

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