HEART HEALTHY DIET

A heart-healthy diet is recommended to reduce patients'

unhealthy blood cholesterol levels, manage high blood
pressure, and lower patients' risk for heart disease.

What Does Heart Do in the Body? What to Avoid: Foods High in Salt/Sodium
Heart is like a pump- It receives blood from the body and pumps it to the lungs. The blood Manage blood pressure and swelling
provides your body with the oxygen and nutrients it needs. It also carries away waste. Make breathing easier for patients with heart failure
Right side- The right side of the heart receives blood from the body and pumps it to the lungs. Recommended value for a heart healthy diet: less than 2300 milligrams of sodium
Left side- The left side of the heart receives blood from the lungs and pumps it out to the body. each day. Ideal goal: less than 1500 mg per day.

What is Heart Disease? High Salt/Sodium Food

Fast Food
Bacon

Narrowed and hardened arteries: Heart disease occurs when the arteries that supply blood to
the heart become hardened and narrowed. This is due to a buildup of plaque on the arteries’ Canned food: vegetables, Cold cuts and cured meats
inner walls. Plaque is the accumulation of fat, cholesterol, and other substances. soup, and beans
Reduced blood flow: As a result, blood flow to the heart is reduced. Heart disease can lead to
a heart attack. A heart attack happens when an artery becomes totally blocked, preventing vital
oxygen and nutrients from getting to the heart. A heart attack can cause permanent damage to
the heart muscle.
Clot formation or circulation: results in myocardial infarction and/or stroke

What Patients are on a Heart Healthy Diet? Bread and Rolls

People who have heart disease or have had heart attack. The Power of Fiber
Patients who have had stroke, high blood pressure,and/or rheumatic heart disease.
Lowers cholesterol: Soluble fiber can reduce both LDL (low density lipoprotein) and
Healthy individuals who are willing to follow the diet to prevent heart disease.
overall cholesterol, perhaps by binding with cholesterol particles in your digestive
What are the General Guidelines? system and moving them out of the body before they’re absorbed.
Encourages healthy weight: fiber gives you a feeling of fullness that helps reduce
Choose heart-healthy fats
hunger. A healthy weight is a vital part of preventing heart disease and protecting
Reduce sodium intake
overall health.
Increase fiber intake
Food source of fiber: fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, whole grains (e.g.
whole wheat bread, unsalted popcorns), beans and legumes.
Fats included in heart healthy diet and fats not included in heart healthy diet

Trans fats Saturated fats Unsaturated fats

Increase heart disease risk and risk of having stroke, even when
eaten in small quantities.
Food source:
Primarily in processed foods made with trans fat from partially
hydrogenated oil.
Fried foods: donuts, french fries, etc.
Baked goods: cake, cookies, crackers, pie, frozen pizza, etc.
Spreads: some margarines and other spreads may have trans
fats.
Raises the level of cholesterol in your blood. High levels of LDL
cholesterol in your blood increase your risk of heart disease and
stroke.
Solid at room temperature.
Food source:
Mainly from animals: red meat, butter, cheese, and ice cream.
Some from plants: coconut oil and palm oil.
Have a beneficial effect on your heart when eaten in moderation
and when used to replace saturated fat and trans fat in your diet.
Liquid at room temperature.
Food source:
Plant-based oils: soybean oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, olive oil,
canola oil, peanut oil, safflower oil, and sesame oil.
Nuts and seeds: walnut, sunflower seed, flaxseeds.
Fish: high in omega-3 fatty acids, which belongs to the
unsaturated fats family.
HEART HEALTHY LABEL
READING TIPS
Using the Nutrition Facts Panel will help you make healthy
food choices for your patients and others in your care
References:
> Heart Healthy - Reduced Sodium Nutrition Therapy - Nutrition Care Manual. (n.d.). Retrieved January 3, 2019, from
https://www.nutritioncaremanual.org/client_ed.cfm?ncm_client_ed_id=405
> Heart-Healthy Label Reading Tips - Nutrition Care Manual. (n.d.). Retrieved January 3, 2019, from
https://www.nutritioncaremanual.org/client_ed.cfm?ncm_client_ed_id=113
Boston, 677 Huntington Avenue, & Ma 02115 +1495‑1000. (2012, September 18). Fats and Cholesterol. Retrieved January 3, 2019,
from https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/fats-and-cholesterol/
Dietary Fats. (n.d.). Retrieved January 3, 2019, from https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/fats/dietary-fats
Donovan, J. (n.d.). How Fiber Protects Your Heart. Retrieved January 3, 2019, from https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/fiber-heart
Foundation, T. H. (n.d.). Sorting fat from fiction. Retrieved January 4, 2019, from https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/news/sorting-fat-
from-fiction
Publishing, H. H. (n.d.). The truth about fats: the good, the bad, and the in-between. Retrieved January 4, 2019, from
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-truth-about-fats-bad-and-good
Saturated Fat. (n.d.). Retrieved January 3, 2019, from https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/fats/saturated-
fats
Why you should pay attention to Percent Daily Value. (n.d.). Retrieved January 4, 2019, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-
lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/food-and-nutrition/faq-20058436
Your Guide to A Healthy Heart. (n.d.), 95.
Your Guide to A Healthy Heart.pdf. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/files/docs/public/heart/healthyheart.pdf
Your Heart & Circulatory System (for Kids). (n.d.). Retrieved January 3, 2019, from https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/heart.html