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Diet for Heart Disease

The fundamental factor in all heart diseases is the diet. A corrective diet designed to alter body chemistry and improve the quality of general nutritional intake can, in many cases, reverse the degenerative changes, which have occurred in the heart and blood vessels.

Diet for Heart Disease:

The diet should be lacto-vegetarian, low in sodium "lid calories. It should consist of high quality, natural organic foods, with emphasis on whole grains, seeds, fresh fruits and vegetables. Foods which should be eliminated are all white flour products, sweets, cl1ocolates, canned foods in syrup, soft drinks, squashes, all hard fats of animal origin such as butter, cream and fatty meats. Salt and sugar should be reduced substantially.

Most flesh foods have high sodium content and "lime meats are also very fatty. They are also highly acid-forming and create a high level of toxic matter in the system. They should be avoided by patients with a heart disease. The patient should also avoid tea, coffee, alcohol and tobacco. Tea and coffee Contain caffeine wl'1.ich has a toxic effect on the heart and. Nervous system. Caffeine is a strong cardiac stimulant, which if taken regularly can use palpitation or disturbances of he1jrt rhythm.

Alcohol damages the liver and over stimulates the heart. It also alters the blood sugar level and depletes the body's vitamin B reserve. Nicotine has a toxic irritant effect on the heart muscles and disturbs the blood sugar level.

The diet for heart patient should consist of nutrients as near to their whole natural state as possible so as to ensure an adequate intake of the essential vitamins minerals and trace elements. Fruits and Vegetables should form a large part of the diet and should be taken in their fresh raw state whenever possible. Grapes and apples are particularly beneficial. The essen¬tial fatty acids, which reduce serum cholesterol levels and minimise the risk of arterioscelerosis can be obtained from sunflower seed oil corn oil or safflower oil. Several studies have indicated that garlic can reduce the cholesterol level in persons whose body normally cannot regulate it. Another important cholesterol lowering herb is alfalfa. Lecithin helps prevent fatty deposits in arteries. Best food sources are unrefined raw crude vegetable oils seeds and grains.

Patients with heart disease should increase their intake of foods rich in vitamin E as this vitamin promotes heart functioning by improving oxygeneration of the cells. It also improves the circulation and muscle strength. Many whole meal products and green vegetables particularly the outer leaves of cabbage are good sources of vitamin E. The vitamin B group is important for heart and circulatory disorders. The best sources of vitamin B are whole grains.

Vitamin C is also essential as it protects against spon¬taneous breaks in capillary walls, which can lead to heart attacks. It also guards against high blood cholesterol. The stress of anger fear disappointment and similar emo¬tions can raise blood fat and cholesterol levels immediately. But this reaction to stress can do little harm if the diet is adequate in vitamin C and panthothenic acid. The richest sources of vitamin C are citrus fruits.

The following is the suggested diet for persons suffering from some disorder of the heart:

Upon arising: Lukewarm water with lemon juice and honey. Breakfast: Fresh fruits such as apples, grapes, pears, ""aches, pineapples, oranges, melons, one or two slices of whole meal bread and skimmed milk.

Mid-morning: Fresh fruit juice or coconut water.

Lunch: Combination salad of vegetables such as lettuces, cabbage, endive, carrots, cucumber, beetroot, tomato, onion and garlic, one or two slices of whole meal bread or wheat tortilla and curd.

Mid-afternoon: Fresh fruit juice.

Dinner: Fresh vegetable juice or soup, two steamed or lightly cooked vegetables, one or two whole wheat wheat tortilla, and a glass of buttermilk.

The patient should also pay attention to other laws of nature for health building such as taking moderate exercise, getting proper rest and sleep, adopting the right mental altitude and getting fresh air and drinking pure water.



I, An all-fruit diet for three to five days, with three meals a day of fresh juicy fruits at five-hourly intervals and use warm water enema to cleanse the bowels.

II. Thereafter, adopt a well-balanced diet on the following lines:

1. Upon arising: A glass of lukewarm water with half a freshly squeezed lime and a teaspoon of honey.

2. Breakfast: Fresh fruits and skimmed milk, sweetened with honey.

3. Lunch: A bowl of freshly prepared steamed vegetables, two or three whole-wheat wheat tortilla and a glass of buttermilk.

4. Mid-afternoon: Vegetable or fruit juice or coconut water.

5. Dinner: Fresh green vegetables salad and sprouts with lemon juice dressing. Follow it by a hot course, if desired.

6. Bedtime Snack: A glass of milk or one apple.


1. Do not take water with meals, but half an hour before or an hour after a meal.
2. Eat slowly, chew your food thoroughly and never eat to full stomach.
3. Restrict the intake of salt.
4. Take liberally foods rich in vitamin E.


1. Apply a hot compress on the left side of the neck for 30 minutes every alternate day and hot packs on the chest over the heart for one minute. Followed by cold pack for
Five minutes.
2. Practise yogic asanas like Shavasana, Vajrasana and gomekhasana.
3. Moderate exercise like walking.
4. Massage of the abdomen and upper back muscles once a week.
5. Fresh air and right mental attitude.

Diet of Heart Patient

A good heart disease diet that includes heart-healthy foods as well as regular exercise and good lifestyle habits can reduce your chances of getting heart disease. These are a few diet and exercise tips, suggestions about the right foods, recipes and diet menu plans, as well as suggestions about diet charts to help heart patients and people who may be more susceptible to heart disease.

Diet plan for heart patients: A heart patient’s diet must be based on some basic thumb rules. For a healthy heart and for lowering your risk of getting heart disease, you must make sure that your food has less fat, low-amounts of sodium, more fibre, and fewer calories.

The diet for heart patients must be low in saturated fat. So when you’re cooking, make sure that you use less butter, margarine, cheese, and red meat, all of which are loaded with calories and can cause cholesterol problems. A diet chart to lose weight should include small amounts of healthy fat and little to no processed fats.

A diet for heart disease patients must also be low in sodium because a high sodium intake can cause blood pressure problems. So a diet which is low in sodium can decrease your risk of getting hypertension as well as heart disease.

It is also recommended that you consume fewer calories and avoid rich and buttery foods that will lead you to gain weight and increase your chances of hypertension and heart disease.

Fibre-rich foods are an important part of the diet of a heart patient. Whole grains, vegetables and fruits can keep you healthy and decrease your chances of getting heart disease.

Food and fitness:
Maintaining your weight is very important for everyone and more so, for heart patients. You may get a diet chart for weight loss or create your own meal plans with some basic health know-how and combine it with regular exercise to keep your weight under control.
Brisk walking, cycling, swimming, and moderate sports are some of the activities that you can indulge in to keep fit. If you have joined a gym with the sole purpose of weight loss, then the in-house nutritionist may create a diet chart for you and the personal trainer can draw up an exercise plan. To reduce your calorie intake, you can alter down some of your eating habits. Instead of whole milk drink skimmed milk and choose low-fat yoghurt over full-fat ones. Replace fried and oily foods with broiled, steamed, boiled, and baked goodies. For instance, baked corn nachos are much better than fried chips.
Stay away from saturated fats and shortening, and instead use healthy oils like peanut, canola, olive, soybean, sunflower and corn. Use just a spoonful of oil while cooking or use non-stick cookware and just a dab of oil when you’re preparing meals. A diet chart for heart patients will often suggest lean meats and unsalted fish, poultry and meat over salted and fat-laden versions.
Diet charts for men and women suffering from heart disease will also suggest egg whites over whole eggs. Mayonnaise and sour cream can be replaced with low-fat yoghurt dips, while processed cheeses can be substituted with low-sodium, low-fat ones. A diet chart for heart patients will also include certain herbs and spices to add flavour to those crisp vegetables and lentils that you cook for your meals. Instead of reaching for the salt, add a dash of lime and sprinkle herbs generously to make your dish flavourful and healthy. People suffering from heart disease or those who are at a risk of getting heart disease, can work wholesome soups into their diet. Cooked with lots of seasonal vegetables, garlic, a dash of olive oil and herbs, soup can be flavourful and just what the doctor ordered. You may also want to replace salted crackers with the low-sodium, whole wheat ones. White bread can be replaced with whole wheat loaves, while salted snacks can be substituted with salad sticks and baked tacos.

If you have heart disease and are following a strict diet, then you should also make it a habit to read food labels because knowing what’s in the food you’re buying can keep you in better health.

Diet and heart disease: The bottom line is that you will have to spend some time putting together a balanced diet. While ready-to-eat meals or take-away meals may be convenient and quick, it’s cooked-from-scratch and healthy meals that will keep heat disease at bay. An average of 25-35 grams of fibre is recommended on a daily basis. Apart for water-soluble fibres, you may also want to take some supplements after consulting a doctor.

You must also include foods that are rich in antioxidants and vitamins E and C a well as selenium to help the body fight free radicals that cause a host of diseases including atherosclerosis, hypertension, and heart disease.

A Mediterranean diet for heart patients can be very beneficial for their heart health as well as their overall health. This kind of diet includes whole grains, fish, legumes, low-fat dairy products, vegetable oils, nuts and lots of fruits and vegetables – all of which are recommended in diet chart templates made for heart patients. Studies have also shown that people who eat Mediterranean-style food have less incidences of heart disease.

Good foods for heart patients: Here are some food products that are good for heart patients:

Salmon: A great source of Omega-3 fatty acids, salmon can reduce the risk of blood clots and can keep the level of cholesterol under check. You may like to include salmon as well as other oily fish like herring, sardines or tuna in your diet.

Olive oil: It reduces the level of LDL cholesterol in your body and keeps your heart healthy. So, you can use it for cooking and for salad dressings, and relish the smoky taste as well as the health benefits, all together.

Oats: These are packed with soluble fibre, which can keep your digestive system healthy. Have these for breakfast with milk or bake oat cookies to get your dose of daily fibre.

Apples: These luscious fruits contain quercetin, a phytochemical that has anti-inflammatory properties and can prevent blood clots. The fibre and vitamins in the fruit is also very beneficial.

Almonds: These nuts are rich in vitamin E that keeps cholesterol in check.

Red wine, whole grains, green leafy veggies, tomatoes and soy protein are some of the foods that are past of the heart diet chart. You can make a diet chart excel sheet to help you keep a track of the foods you have eaten.

While several factors can lead to heart disease the right diet and daily exercise can help you cope with the disease.

Submitted on January 16, 2014