A diet for someone with heart disease aims at keeping cholesterol levels low because cholesterol buildup clogs the arteries and reduces blood flow to the heart causing heart disease. This means eating low-fat, low-sodium foods to reduce cholesterol, avoid high blood pressure and maintain a healthy weight, MayoClinic.com explains. A heart-healthy diet reduces cholesterol levels for heart patients while controlling blood pressure and weight.
Limit Unhealthy Fats
Saturated fats originate from animal products, including meat, poultry with skin and whole-milk dairy foods, such as milk, cheese and ice cream, the Harvard School of Public Health notes. Some plant foods also contain saturated fats, including coconut, coconut oil, palm oil and palm kernel oil. Saturated fats increase LDL cholesterol, which causes cholesterol buildup in the arteries. Trans fats, found in commercially baked snack foods and many fried foods in restaurants, raise LDL cholesterol and lower healthy HDL cholesterol, which picks up excess cholesterol in the bloodstream and delivers it to the liver for disposal as waste.
Healthy Fats
Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats may reduce LDL cholesterol and raise protective HDL levels, the Harvard School of Public Health points out. Sources of monounsaturated fats include olive, peanut and canola oils, avocados, almonds, pecans and hazelnuts. Fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, a type of polyunsaturated fat, improves cholesterol levels. They include salmon, tuna, mackerel and herring. Walnuts, corn, soybean and flaxseed oils also contain polyunsaturated fats.
Low-Fat Protein
Choose protein foods with lower fat such as lean meats with all visible fat cut off and poultry without skin according to MedlinePlus. Eat two servings of fish a week. Bake, broil or roast foods rather than frying them. Dried peas, lentils, nuts and eggs also contain protein. Limit consumption of egg yolks and eat egg whites or low-cholesterol egg substitutes instead.
Fiber Foods
Fruits and vegetables are low in saturated fats and have no cholesterol, according to the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes Diet from the National Cholesterol Education Program. A diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables may help improve cholesterol levels for people who have high cholesterol, particularly heart patients. Fiber-rich whole grains include whole-grain cereal, whole-wheat bread and pasta, oatmeal, brown rice and barley. They contain no cholesterol and have low saturated fat content for heart-healthy benefits.
Reduce Salt Intake
Your doctor may recommend reducing salt intake if you have heart disease. Excess salt contributes to high blood pressure, a risk factor for heart disease, according to MayoClinic.com. Avoiding table salt helps lower your sodium intake. Canned and processed foods may contain high amounts of salt. Check labels on canned or prepared meals for salt content. Use herbs, spices and salt substitutes whenever possible.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Heart Disease-Lifestyle and Home Remedies
- Harvard School of Public Health: Fats and Cholesterol-Out with the Bad, In with the Good
- MedlinePlus: Heart Disease and Diet
- National Cholesterol Education Program: TLC Diet-Daily Food Guide Food Groups
- MayoClinic.com: Heart-Healthy Diet-8 Steps to Prevent Heart Disease
