Patients with congestive heart failure, or CHF, have to restrict their intake of certain nutrients that can harm the cardiovascular system. If you have CHF, the American Heart Association suggests limiting your consumption of saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and sodium, and keeping calories and, therefore, your weight under control. Heart-healthy food sources of calcium with moderate to high content will help you achieve your daily value of 1,000 mg.
Fortified Cereal
Some breakfast cereals contain added calcium, with amounts varying by brand and variety. Cereals that are free of saturated fat may be healthy sources of calcium for CHF patients, but some have more sodium than others. Compare the FDA nutrition facts on cereal labels to find the most calcium and the least sodium. Significant calcium content ranges from 20 percent daily value, or DV, to 100 percent DV per suggested serving. Remember to add more calcium from the milk or alternative rice or soy drink that you use.
Fat-Free Dairy Products and Substitutes
Nonfat dairy, soy and rice beverages make healthy accompaniments to cereal and other meals. You'll enjoy a boost of about 30 percent DV of calcium from 1 cup of nonfat milk and fortified soymilk and rice drinks. Plain, unflavored fat-free yogurt provides even greater mineral content, with 45 percent DV of calcium per 8 oz. Sodium content of all of these is about 10 percent DV per serving, according to the USDA Nutrient Database.
Fortified Orange Juice
Some commercial brands of frozen orange juice concentrate and ready-to-drink orange juice deliver significant added calcium content to your diet. The USDA reports that 1 cup of fortified orange juice has 50 percent DV of calcium. Sodium content is insignificant.
Heart-Healthy Spinach
You have the power to cook your veggies for heart health and maximum mineral content. Cooking concentrates the calcium in spinach to provide about 25 percent DV in 1 cup. To minimize sodium intake, choose fresh or frozen, not canned spinach. Cook without butter, to avoid saturated fat.
Heart-Healthy Legumes
Legumes such as dry beans and peas provide calcium as well as soluble fiber, a nutrient that benefits cholesterol levels in patient with CHF. One cup servings of black-eyed peas have 20 percent DV of calcium, and great Northern or navy beans have over 10 percent DV of calcium. Packaged or bulk legumes may contain far less sodium than canned or frozen; check the labels for sodium content.
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