Many patients become acquainted with the cardiac diet while hospitalized for a heart attack or heart bypass surgery. They are usually told to continue the diet after they return home. While your cardiologist, nurse or dietitian can give you specific recommendations for your condition, there are a few basic tenets of the traditional cardiac diet.
Components
A cardiac diet consists of fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, whole grains and legumes. Fish, healthy oils and low-fat dairy products are consumed in moderation, while salt is limited. Cholesterol and saturated fat are limited while omega-3 fatty acids are considered beneficial. The Cleveland Clinic recommends increasing intake of magnesium, calcium and potassium, which are minerals largely found in dairy products, nuts, grains and vegetables.
Disallowed Foods
Foods with trans fat are generally not allowed on a cardiac diet. These foods often contain shortening; typical foods include pastry items, fast food french fries and highly-processed foods. Some margarines also contain trans fat. Foods high in saturated fat are also not allowed. These include high fat meat, such as 73 percent lean hamburger meat, sausage, lunch meat, chicken skin and many restaurant meats and fried foods. Salty foods such as commercially-prepared soups and frozen dinners are limited or disallowed and table salt is discouraged.
Mediterranean Style
The Mediterranean diet offers a new spin on the cardiac diet and your physician can decide if it is right for your condition. This version of the cardiac diet allows more fat than the traditional diet; this additional fat is in the form of olive oil or fat from nuts, seeds and fish. A daily glass of red wine is allowed and fruits, vegetables, beans and grains form the basic components of the diet. Fish is eaten frequently and red meat is limited. Herbs and spices are encouraged on this diet, explains MayoClinic.com.
Benefits
A cardiac diet is considered healthy for most adults. It helps the individual with a cardiovascular condition eat foods that promote health rather than worsen his condition. Limiting sodium helps the heart patient because excessive sodium causes extra fluid in the bloodstream, placing a strain on the compromised heart. Lowering saturated fat and trans fat helps lower blood cholesterol, a component of the plaque buildup that can lead to a future heart attack. A cardiac diet can also help an overweight or obese individual lose weight, which helps reduce his heart's workload.
Considerations
A cardiac diet is one component of a cardiac rehabilitation program that usually includes exercise, strict adherence to a medication regimen, a healthy lifestyle, adequate rest and stress management. The Cleveland Clinic states that following a proper diet is crucial to preventing medical complications after a heart attack. With a little effort, you can find foods in the cardiac diet that give you variety, satisfaction and improved health.
