Heart-healthy diets generally follow the same standards inside and outside the hospital. One person's optimal diet will not be the same as another's, however. For this reason it is important to consult with a licensed dietitian or physician before beginning a diet, especially when health conditions such as heart disease are involved.
Fluids
Fluid intake needs to take into account multiple diseases. Some forms of heart disease, such as congestive heart failure, impair the strength of the heart and its ability to pump blood. In addition, many people with heart disease have decreased kidney function because the kidneys may not receive as much blood. Many people with congestive heart failure and related conditions need to limit fluid intake to decrease swelling in the tissues and the strain on the heart. In other cases, fluid intake is not limited and increased levels can be beneficial.
Low Sodium
Sodium tends to increase the blood pressure and is linked to adverse outcomes, especially when it comes to heart disease. Sodium tends to encourage fluid retention. It acts like a magnet for water. It causes fluid to build up in the blood vessels, making the heart work harder to pump the blood, and increases blood pressure. Over time, this can make the heart bigger, just like working a muscle at the gym makes it bigger. However, while making one's muscles larger at the gym is usually a healthy response to exercise, increased heart size from high blood pressure decreases the function of the heart and is very unhealthy. Therefore, heart-healthy diets usually restrict the sodium to under 1 to 2 g per day.
Fruits and Vegetables
In addition to carrying a lot of vitamins and minerals, fruits and vegetables have relatively low calories, and they keep the blood sugar even and contain fiber. Lower calories can be good for many people with heart disease, though this depends on body weight and composition. Obesity is a risk factor for heart disease, and its presence with heart disease is a further risk factor for complications. Restricting calories helps improve body composition. A lot of people with obesity and heart disease also have diabetes mellitus, which causes increased levels of sugar in the blood. Fruits and vegetables, but not fruit juices, tend to be digested slowly and do not cause high spikes of blood sugar. Fiber decreases bad cholesterol, called LDL.
Whole Grains
Whole grains contain fiber to help decrease bad cholesterol. They also substitute fat for a more healthy alternative. Like fruits and vegetables, these complex carbohydrates are slowly digested and tend to keep the blood sugar from spiking, and can be low in calories as well.
Low Fat and Cholesterol
Fat and cholesterol in the diet contribute to higher levels of fat and cholesterol in the blood. Heart-healthy diets require foods low in fat and cholesterol to keep levels of fatty compounds in the blood low. Fat and cholesterol in the blood build up in the walls of the arteries, making them narrow and hard. They create plaque in the vessels, a condition called arteriosclerosis. The narrowed arteries raise the blood pressure and make the heart work harder. They also deprive organs such as the heart of blood supply, and can even lead to heart attacks or strokes if the vessels are occluded.
References
- "Nutrition Concepts and Controversies, 11th ed."; Frances Sizer, et al.; 2007
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 17th ed."; Anthony S Fauci, et al.; 2008
