Heart surgery is performed to correct problems with your heart. If you smoke, are sedentary or regularly consume a high-fat diet, you increase your risk of heart problems. Surgeons perform more than 500,000 heart surgeries in the United States yearly, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. If you had or are scheduled to have heart surgery, your physician will recommend diet and lifestyle modifications designed to preserve your heart's health.
Individualized Plan
There is no specific heart surgery diet. Your physician will work with you to determine an individualized plan based on factors that impact your dietary needs. These factors include, but are not limited to, your weight status; existing conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes; and your blood lipid, or fat profile. Many physicians combine this individual information with American Heart Association, or AHA, guidelines to provide recommendations for a heart-healthy diet and lifestyle plan.
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a waxy substance produced in your liver and received from your diet. Excess cholesterol can accumulate in your arteries and increase your risk of heart problems. It is important to protect your heart after heart surgery. The AHA provides general guidelines for improving and protecting your heart health. According to the Cleveland Clinic Preventative Cardiology and Rehabilitation, it recommends these AHA guidelines after heart surgeries, such as bypass. The guidelines focus on lowering your cholesterol intake. Provisions include consuming no more than 7 percent of your daily calories from saturated fat, less than 1 percent from trans fat and less than 300 mg of dietary cholesterol daily.
Saturated Fats
Saturated fats are primarily found in animal products, such as beef, lamb, poultry, cheese, butter and other dairy products. According to the AHA, regularly consuming foods high in saturated fats increases your blood cholesterol, which is what you do not want after heart surgery. Making healthier food choices, such as eating more fruits and vegetables; baking or broiling instead of frying; and eating leaner cuts of meat, such as chicken breast, instead of top sirloin, helps reduce your saturated fat intake. Select fat-free and reduced-fat products as often as possible and read food labels so that you know the saturated fat content in foods so you stay within your recommended guidelines
Trans Fats
The food manufacturing industry often use trans fats because they give food a desirable taste and texture, are easy to use and are inexpensive. However, according to the AHA, trans fats raise your levels of low-density lipoprotein, or LDL the bad form of cholesterol. Because trans fats are in many processed foods, it is important to read food labels and monitor your intake so you can stay within your recommended guidelines.
Other Guidelines
Other guidelines include consuming fish at least twice a week. Good choices include salmon, cod and trout. Consume whole-grain and high-fiber foods, such as bran, brown rice, buckwheat and whole-wheat pasta. Reduce your sugar intake by cutting back on added sugar, especially sugary drinks. Use herbs instead of salt to give food flavor. The AHA recommends consuming between 1,500 and 2,300 mg of sodium daily. If you have high blood pressure, your doctor may recommend a low-sodium diet with a lower range.
