In truth, a hospital cardiac diet is very much like the American Heart Association's Heart Healthy diet. You needn't wait until you've experienced symptoms of heart disease to follow a hospital cardiac diet. Beginning to follow the diet now may prevent heart disease or its related disorders.
Background
In a hospital setting, a cardiac diet may be ordered for patients who have heart disease, hyperlipidemia, dyslipidemia, hypertension and myocardial infarction states Core Excel's Nursing and Nutrition text.The Mayo Clinic adds heart failure to the list of diagnoses for which a cardiac diet may be ordered.
Features
The basic hospital cardiac diet has eight basic features as outlined by Nursing and Nutrition: Keep total fat intake between 25 and 35 percent; keep trans fat intake as minimal as possible; saturated fat should comprise no more than 7 percent of daily intake; monounsaturated fat daily intake no more than 20 percent of total calories; polyunsaturated fat daily intake should be no more than 10 percent of total calories; cholesterol intake no more than 200 mg daily; include 20 to 30g of fiber in your daily diet and carbohydrates should comprise no more than 50 to 60 percent of your daily diet.
Considerations
The Mayo Clinic advises those diagnosed with heart failure to limit their daily sodium intake to no more than 2,000 mg daily and warns, "Keep in mind that most of this salt is already added to prepared foods, and be careful when using salt substitutes."
Decatur Memorial Hospital, while not advising a specified daily intake of sodium, offers tips for reducing sodium intake such as removing the salt shaker from the dining table, replace salt in your cooking with non-sodium containing herbs and spices; and to use fresh or frozen foods whenever possible due to the high sodium content of boxed and canned foods.
The Heart-Healthy diet of the American Heart Association advises to limit sodium intake to 1,500 mg per day.
Ask your health-care provider what your appropriate daily sodium intake should be.
Suggestions
Decatur Memorial Hospital recommends that those following a cardiac diet increase their daily intake of foods rich in antioxidants by eating five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables. The more colorful the vegetable or fruit, the more nutrients it contains, advises the hospital.
Warnings
Consult your health-care provider about the specific details of the cardiac diet that is right for your situation.
Do not use a salt substitute without first consulting your health-care provider. Many salt substitutes contain potassium which may adversely affect your health, advises Decatur Memorial Hospital.
