From all of my research on the subject to date, there is no one particular nutrient that I think people who have been diagnosed with a heart issue (i.e. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, experienced a cardiac event etc) would benefit from most, but rather it’s the vast symphony of nutrients found in whole natural foods, all of which play a vital and symbiotic role in the health and performance of the body that has the positive effect, including the ability to aggressively reverse heart diseases.
The benefit is from the overall quality of the diet, eating what the body, including the heart actually needs, and not consuming those substances that negatively affect the system in any significant quantity.
The symphony of nutrients I’m speaking of are health promoting protein, essential fats, real food carbohydrates, water, fiber, antioxidants and phytochemicals, vitamins and minerals, enzymes etc… that are found in Nutrient Rich vegetables, fruits, beans, raw nuts and seeds, and to a lesser extent whole grains, and small amounts of naturally raised animal foods, such as fish and white meat chicken.
the key is to understand the Nutrient Profile of the various foods yo uare eating. It will help you make decisions about the Nutrient Rich way you eat.
Whole grains are considered Nutrient Rich though low in the all too important antioxidants and phytochemicals vital to a healthy heart. And animal foods are rich in some nutrients, but as a whole considered nutrient poor. They are considered nutrient poor because they are missing whole categories of nutrients and because they contain substances, like saturated fat and cholesterol… that the body just does not require from dietary sources. When consumed in excess, the accumulation is the nemesis of a healthy heart and body.
When animal foods are consumed in significant quantities as is the case in the standard American diet, one can also become overfed and under nourished, among other problems that develop, as they particularly lacking in the antioxidants and phytochemicals (micro nutrients) that promote heart / health.
http://www.nutrientrich.com/foodclassificationchart_full.php?focus=grains
http://www.nutrientrich.com/foodclassificationchart_full.php?focus=fish
http://www.nutrientrich.com/foodclassificationchart_full.php?focus=meat_wild
http://www.nutrientrich.com/foodclassificationchart_full.php?focus=refined_grains
http://www.nutrientrich.com/foodclassificationchart_refs.html
You can choose to consume small amounts of nutrient poor foods and even nutrient barren foods and still be eating a heart healthy nutrient rich diet on a total dietary intake basis, if those foods comprise less than 10% of food intake as a general guideline. But note, only the person’s primary care physician, can make that determination accurately. For example quality aside, how much fat a person consumes. If a person is in a heart / health crisis, the Nutrient Rich 90% Guideline may need to be adjusted upward to a very strict regimen and limitation put on certain kinds of foods.