Therapeutic diet
Cardiac diet
Lower cholesterol and blood pressure to protect the heart and blood vessels.
Coronary heart diseaseAfter heart attack or stentHigh cholesterolStroke prevention
Principles
- Replace saturated fat with unsaturated fat rather than removing fat entirely
- Increase soluble fibre from oats, barley, beans and fruit
- Reduce sodium
- Follow a broadly Mediterranean pattern where possible
Include
- Oily fish twice weekly
- Olive, rapeseed or groundnut oil
- Oats, barley, beans and lentils
- Vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds daily
- Wholegrain bread and cereals
Avoid or limit
- Butter, ghee, lard, palm oil and fatty processed meat
- Pastry, fried foods and commercial cakes and biscuits
- Salt and salty processed foods
- Sugary drinks
A sample day
- BreakfastPorridge with berries and walnuts
- LunchLentil soup, wholemeal roll, salad with olive oil
- SnackApple and a small handful of almonds
- DinnerGrilled mackerel, brown rice, steamed greens
Cautions
- · If you are on warfarin, keep leafy green intake consistent rather than avoiding it.
- · In advanced heart failure, weight loss and muscle wasting change the priority to energy and protein.
Afya Companion offers education and self-help support. It does not diagnose, treat or replace care from your doctor, nurse, psychologist or dietitian. If something in your health changes, speak to your care team.