Research supported in part by NIH's National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) that was released earlier this year examined how different dietary components affect the risk of dying from the major cardiometabolic diseases. These include heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

Researchers found that nearly half of all the deaths in the U.S. in 2012 that were caused by cardiometabolic diseases were associated with poor eating habits.

The researchers investigated the relationships of 10 different foods and nutrients with deaths related to these three diseases. They also compared data on participants' age, sex, ethnicity, and education.

These results suggest ways to change eating habits that may help improve health.