A heart attack occurs when a thrombus, or blood clot, forms in the heart. This prevents the heart from pumping oxygenated blood into the body. Once a heart attack has occurred, it is statistically likely that a second will occur in the future, unless preventative measures are taken. High cholesterol and high blood pressure are common causes of a heart attack. As there is a correlation between excessive weight and high cholesterol and blood pressure, losing weight can help prevent future heart attacks. The Cambridge Diet is a particularly effective way of losing excess fat quickly.
Cholesterol, High Blood Pressure and Heart Attacks
Low-density lipoproteins, or LDL, also known as "bad" cholesterol, and triglycerides, or fat, can accumulate in the bloodstream when your dietary intake is high in saturated fat. "Bad" cholesterol attaches to the walls of the arteries to form plaque, which hardens and narrows the arteries. This terrain presents an obstacle to the blood flow and can result in high blood pressure. If a lot of cholesterol plaque forms in the arteries, the blood flow slows and a blood clot may form. A blood clot anywhere in the arteries may detach and travel to other places including the heart.
Obesity and Cholesterol
Cholesterol in itself is not bad; your body needs cholesterol to continue building healthy cells. However, your body makes all the cholesterol it really needs. Consuming high amounts of dietary cholesterol and saturated fat can put you at risk for high cholesterol levels, which can lead to heart attack and stroke. Maintaining an excessive body weight is a risk factor for high cholesterol. Foods high in cholesterol and saturated fat include fatty meats, fried foods and high-fat dairy products.
The Cambridge Diet
Alan Howard and Ian McLean-Baird originated the Cambridge diet in the 1960s as a quick way to lose weight. Each day the dieter consumes 3 or 4 meals, depending on gender and height. The daily calorie levels start as low as 415 to 500 calories per day. After a period of time -- a maximum of 4 weeks -- you can increase your calories first to 790 and then to 1,000 calories per day. The diet program offers recipes, as well as meal replacement and snack products that provide essential nutrients. Because the diet severely restricts calorie intake, the program requires a preparation phase during which the dieter slowly reduces her food intake. The Cambridge Diet program is only available through distributors, which are found worldwide.
The Cambridge Diet and Heart Attacks
According to the Cambridge Diet website, you should not follow the Cambridge Diet within three months of having a heart attack or stroke, or a serious operation or accident. While this diet may be a quick way to lose excess pounds, such a warning is a red flag. You should consult your doctor before going on this diet, or any other diet, whether you have had a heart attack or not. In some cases, you can only control high cholesterol with medication. Additionally, to lose weight and keep it off, the best long-term solution is to adopt a healthy life style that combines an exercise program with a well-balanced diet, consisting of whole-grain foods, lean meats, fatty fish, legumes, fruit and vegetables, which meets your caloric needs. Develop your diet plan with the help of a doctor or dietitian.
