The heart still works in people with heart failure. However, it is unable to adequately pump enough blood throughout the body, which causes fluid to build up in the lungs, making it difficult to breath and causing edema in the extremities. There is no cure for heart failure, but you can treat the symptoms. A diet for heart failure aims to reduce the workload of the heart, decrease edema and improve breathing. A 1,500-calorie diet for heart failure patients helps control calorie and sodium intake.
Diet Guidelines
When following a calorie-controlled diet for heart failure, you need to make wise food choices to control both calorie and sodium intake. In addition to limiting your calories to 1,500-calories a day, you also need to limit your daily sodium intake to 2,000 to 3,000 mg a day, according to the Southern New Hampshire Clinic. The American Heart Association recommends that most people should aim to limit sodium to just 1500 mg per day. Choosing more fresh, unprocessed foods can help you limit both calorie and sodium intake. In addition, reading food labels can help you track your intake. Your meal plan should include three 400 calorie meals, and two 150 calorie snacks.
Breakfast
A low-sodium, calorie-controlled breakfast may include 1 cup of cooked oatmeal with 1/4 cup of raisins and 1 cup of nonfat milk. This breakfast meal contains 380 calories and 175 mg of sodium. Be sure to read the food labels of your favorite ready-to-eat breakfast cereals, some of which can have as much as 300 mg of sodium per serving. Most of your food choices should contain less than 140 mg of sodium per serving to help limit your overall sodium intake.
Lunch
A healthy lunch meal on your 1,500-calorie heart failure diet may include an entree salad consisting of 3 oz. of fresh broiled salmon, 4 walnut halves chopped, 2 tbsp. of balsamic vinegar and 1 tsp. of olive oil on top of 2 cups of mixed greens, served with a small orange and five low-sodium whole grain crackers. This lunch meal contains 415 calories and 325 mg of sodium. Making your meals at home can help you control both calories and sodium intake.
Afternoon Snack
Snacking on a calorie-controlled diet helps control hunger and keeps your energy levels up. A healthy snack idea includes 1 cup of nonfat yogurt with 1/3 cup of ready-to-eat cereal. This snack contains 140 calories and 235 mg of sodium.
Dinner
For dinner, try a 3 oz. broiled pork chop with a 6 oz. baked potato topped with 1 tsp. of unsalted margarine or butter, 1/2 cup of unsweetened applesauce and 1/2 cup of steamed broccoli. This meal contains 425 calories and 290 mg of sodium. Choose lean fresh meats prepared without sauces to limit both calories and sodium.
Evening Snack
For an evening, you can have a medium apple with 1 oz. of low-fat, low-sodium cheese. This snack contains 125 calories and 260 mg of sodium.
References
- Southern New Hampshire Medical Center; Diet for the Treatment of Heart Failure; June 2003
- MedlinePlus: Heart Failure
- MayoClinic.com; Your Diabetes Diet: Exchange List; May 2010
- The Care Group; Average Sodium Content of Foods; 2004
- American Heart Association; American Heart Association supports lower sodium limits for most Americans; March 2009
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