Epidemiological data suggest that people consuming high fibre and high fruit and vegetable  and high nut and fish diets have the lowest rates of CVD. Red meat appears to be associated with more CVD while high dairy diets are either neutral or even associated with protection. Intervention studies have  confirmed only some of these associations.  Fish and fish oil interventions have failed to  demonstrate a clear protective effect  while replacement of saturated fat (both from meat and dairy)  with a high level of polyunsaturated fats modestly lowers CVD rates in some studies . The Predimed study showed that diets rich in virgin olive oil  and mixed nuts lower CVD rates on the background of a Mediterranean diet. DASH style diets high in dairy and fruit and vegetables  lower BP and would be expected to lower strokes but there have been no long term interventions. Modest reductions in salt long term reduces CVD events  but the data is not strong.