Congestive heart failure, a type of heart disease, can fluctuate in severity depending on your lifestyle choices. One of the most important lifestyle options in heart disease is a healthy, well-balanced cardiac diet. Most cardiac diets will encourage low-fat, high-fiber foods with attention focused on fats and cholesterol. A diet for congestive heart failure takes these guidelines to the next level by concentrating on factors such as sodium, or salt content; natural diuretics; and fluid intake.
Low Sodium
Sodium can be used as a flavoring, act as a preservative or occur naturally in some foods. Prepackaged foods provide sodium content on the label. Unless you are eating naturally grown fruits or vegetables, it is very important to read the sodium content on food packages. According to the American Heart Association, many common prepackaged foods, such as cheeses, tomato sauces and soups, are high in sodium. In congestive heart failure, increasing the sodium in your diet increases the work load on your heart and can lead to extreme peripheral edema, or swelling in your feet and hands. The American Heart Association encourages keeping tabs on your daily intake and ingesting less than 1,500 mg per day of sodium.
Natural Diuretics
In congestive heart failure, the heart is already working harder to pump your blood supply through your body. Many times, your physician will prescribe diuretics, also known as “water pills," to flush excess fluid from your body and decrease the workload on your heart. Some foods are natural diuretics and can work in conjunction with the pills prescribed to flush excess fluid from your body. Coffee, alcohol and tea are known diuretics, which cause you to urinate more frequently. Some foods, such as watermelon, also act as a natural diuretic and will have the same effect. If your doctor has prescribed a diuretic medication for your congestive heart failure, you should discuss which foods and fluids to avoid.
Fluid Intake Choices
Sometimes your physician will limit how much fluid you can have in a 24-hour period. The fluids will be measured by cubic centimeters (cc's). For instance, if your doctor limits your fluid intake to 2,000 cubic centimeters per day, this would roughly translate to 68 ounces, or about eight 8.5 oz. glasses of fluid per day. Two important factors to remember with fluid intake include the type of fluid you drink and the color of your output, or urine. If you are limiting your daily liquids to the prescribed amount and find that your urine is infrequent and dark yellow, this should be reported to your physician, as you may not be getting enough fluids. When choosing the right fluids to drink with congestive heart failure, remember that nothing beats regular water. Teas, coffee and alcohol will all defeat the purpose of hydration as they cause you to urinate more frequently, effectively flushing out the fluid you just drank.
Avoid Processed Foods
Processed foods are those that have undergone some form of chemical packaging or alteration prior to consumption. Included in this food group are cheeses, canned fruits and vegetables, and ready-to-eat (including frozen) meals. These foods are commonly high in fat, loaded with sodium, and lacking the vitamins and minerals that can be found in fresh foods. Good choices to include in a heart-failure diet include fresh foods, such as fruits and vegetables, and meats that are fresh and low in saturated fat content, such as chicken and lean cuts of beef.
Low-Fat Foods
Low fat does not mean low taste. Chicken, sirloin and salmon are all considered low-fat meats that are widely available and enjoyed. A diet for congestive heart failure should steer clear of foods high in saturated and trans fats, both of which can increase your cholesterol and increase the workload on your heart. Meats to avoid include processed luncheon meats, such as bologna; hot dogs; fatty stew meats; and ground, or processed, meats such as hamburger. Remember to include your cooking materials, such as butter, in your overall fat count for the day. Low-fat meats can be sauteed or broiled using natural seasonings such as olive oils, lemon or lime, or low-sodium spices that will add to the flavor without adding to fat and sodium content.
