Heart Care - Diet

It is important that you follow a healthy nutrition plan. Healthy food habits can help you avoid three major factors for heart attack – high cholesterol, high blood pressure and excess weight. Some guidelines to follow include:

• Eat plenty of foods that are high in fiber, such as whole-grain breads and cereals, fruits and vegetables and beans.
• Eat no more than 2,400 milligrams of sodium per day (about 1 teaspoon of salt).
• Limit foods high in saturated fats such as butter, cream, cheese, bacon, ice cream and sweet baked goods. Choose fat-free or low fat milk products, fish, poultry and lean meats. Choose fats low in saturated fat such as canola oil or olive oil.
• Limit your intake of foods high in calories but low in nutritional value, such as soft drinks and candy.
• Limit yourself to no more than one alcoholic drink per day if you are a woman or no more than two if you are a man.

Next topic: Cholesterol and Heart Disease

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