Last updated on January 11, 2022
Content By: Dr. Nikita Toshi BDS, Assistant Manager (Medical Review), Dr. Ritu Budania MBBS, MD (Pharmacology) Head, Medical Affairs & Dr. Ami Shah Registered Dietitian and Diabetic Educator
Last updated on January 11, 2022
Starting a diet can feel like climbing a mountain, especially if you haven’t had much success in the past. However, there is no mountain that can’t be climbed if you plan and prepare to do it. Dieting is something that is most likely to succeed when you approach it methodically.
Creating a diet chart for heart patients is an excellent way to plan and follow a new diet. One of the major reasons new diets are difficult to follow is that you have to change the ingredients, cooking styles and portions. These changes can be difficult to deal with if you do not establish a routine.
Consider talking to a nutritionist or a dietitian if you need help with a diet chart for heart patients. This way, you can create a plan that includes your favourite ingredients that are allowed in a diet plan for heart patients.
Starting a diet can feel like climbing a mountain, especially if you haven’t had much success in the past. However, there is no mountain that can’t be climbed if you plan and prepare to do it. Dieting is something that is most likely to succeed when you approach it methodically.
Creating a diet chart for heart patients is an excellent way to plan and follow a new diet. One of the major reasons new diets are difficult to follow is that you have to change the ingredients, cooking styles and portions. These changes can be difficult to deal with if you do not establish a routine.
Consider talking to a nutritionist or a dietitian if you need help with a diet chart for heart patients. This way, you can create a plan that includes your favourite ingredients that are allowed in a diet plan for heart patients.
Written by
BDS, Assistant Manager (Medical Review)
Reviewed by
MBBS, MD (Pharmacology) Head, Medical Affairs
Reviewed by
PG Clinical Nutrition (Cardiac & Diabetes) Registered Dietitian and Diabetic Educator
While it may not be a necessity, crafting the best diet for heart patients is usually easier if you can create a written plan. A diet chart provides routine and structure to whoever is following it by covering all aspects of the diet. It makes it easier for you to do your grocery shopping and meal preparations.
The heart functions as the engine of the body. Its role is to oxygenate blood and pump it to the rest of the body through the arteries. Once the cells absorb the oxygen from the blood, it is sent back to the heart via the veins.
This key bodily function is powered by biochemical reactions that depend on a delicate balance of different minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium that produce electrical signals to trigger contractions and relaxations of the heart muscles.
Some nutrients help the heart indirectly by lowering your bad cholesterol (also known as Low-Density-Lipoproteins or LDL cholesterol). LDL cholesterol causes a buildup of plaque in your arteries and narrows them over time, increasing your blood pressure and forcing your heart to work harder. This narrowing of arteries is also known as atherosclerosis.
Some examples are:
Monounsaturated fatty acids
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (ex. Omega 3)
B complex vitamins - B-3 (niacin), B-6 (pyridoxine) and B-9 (folic acid)
Soluble fibre
Many of these key nutrients are part of a normal diet but by consuming more nuts, leaner meats and whole foods (vegetables, fruits, whole grains) you can improve your heart health.
Controlling your diet is one of the ways of dealing with the risks of heart disease. Lifestyle changes like getting more exercise and following a heart patient diet can greatly improve your cardiovascular health.
There is a long list of foods to avoid after a heart attack or heart surgery but it is more important to focus on the foods you are still allowed to eat. This is where a diet plan can be very effective. By putting it down in writing and setting scheduled eating times, you will be able to follow your diet more consistently and plan your day around your meals.
It is even more important to make a diet chart if you have a busy schedule. Having a diet chart for heart patients will help you keep track of meal timings and give you something you can tailor to suit the demands of your everyday life.
In a study with over 40,000 people, 57% of participants who planned their meals reported better food variety with a reasonable effect against obesity. It was observed that meal planners were more likely to stick to a quality diet.
Another study in 2018 examined long-term weight loss and found that old habits resurfaced and a majority of lost weight was usually regained within 5 years. The study pointed out that sustainable meal planning was the right approach over any particular diet.
The diet that is most likely to succeed is the one that you can follow comfortably.
Improve your diet for heart health with the right medicines.
Order now for hassle-free instant deliveries from PharmEasy!
Making big changes to your diet to improve your heart health may seem like a big undertaking but with the right planning and tools, you’ll breeze through it. Choose your ingredients well, make sure you get plenty of fibre and micronutrients like omega 3 fatty acids, iron, magnesium, potassium, calcium and the vitamins needed to help your heart function optimally. This vegetarian diet plan for heart patients is meant to give you a place to start from. Choose better versions of the ingredients you are used to or find good substitutes for them. Use smaller plates or bowls to implement portion control. Over time, you can adjust the quantities a bit so you don’t feel hungry too quickly.
| SAMPLE INDIAN VEGETARIAN DIET CHART FOR HEART PATIENTS 7 DAY MEAL PLAN | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
| Early Morning (6am – 7am) | – 1 cup tea – 1 plate Salad (fruits, sprouts, leafy greens and veggies, coconut water) |
– 1 cup tea – 1 small cup of oats (best for a pre-exercise meal) – 1 small banana – coconut water |
– 1 cup tea – 1 cup vegetable soup – 1 multi-grain bread slice toasted |
– 1 cup tea – 1 glass green smoothie (spinach, kale with fruits like apple, banana, mango) |
– 1 cup tea – 1 bowl of berries (raspberries, strawberries, blueberries), and nuts (walnuts, almonds, macadamia nuts) |
– 1 cup tea – 1/2 cup sundal (boiled chickpeas) |
– 1 pomegranate – 1 glass coconut water |
| Breakfast (8am – 9am) | – 1 cup mixed veg poha with sprouts – tea/milk – 1 cut apple |
– 2 multi-grain bread veg sandwich – paneer veg toast – 1 plate cucumber |
– oatmeal or oats appam – 1 cut apple – 1 pomegranate |
– 2 dosas with sambar and peanut chutney | – 1 serving Pongal with coconut chutney – rava upma |
– 3 idlis with drumstick and vegetable sambar | – thalipeeth/ veg paratha with curd |
| Mid Morning Snack (11am – 11:30am) | – buttermilk – Wheat biscuits |
– buttermilk with Trail mix (nuts, dry fruits and seeds) | – buttermilk roasted/boiled chana (homemade) | – buttermilk with baked wheat-based samosa/kachori | – buttermilk with roasted masala papad topped with tomato and cucumber | – 1 cup buttermilk – 1 roasted masala papad topped with tomato and cucumber |
– 1 glass of buttermilk – ½ cup sundal |
| Lunch (1pm – 2pm) | – 1 cup brown rice + dal – steamed carrots and beans – raita |
– 2 multi-grain roti – palak paneer – onion tomato raita |
– 1 cup brown rice – dal with spinach – beans carrot poriyal |
– 2 multi-grain roti – bhindi masala gravy – 1 small cup curd |
– 2 methi multi-grain parathas – mixed veg gravy |
– 3 phulkas – dal tadka – onion tomato raita |
– Veg pulao – paneer masala |
| Evening Snack (4pm – 6pm) | – unsalted makhana + green tea | – 1 cup curd with black salt and roasted chana and peanuts | – 1 plate cut cucumber with salt and pepper – 2 multi-grain crackers |
– 1 glass buttermilk – 2 methi khakhras |
– 1 glass fruit juice – 2 multi-grain crackers |
– tea/coffee – bhel without sev and puri |
– 1 cup sprout salad |
| Dinner (8pm – 9pm) | – 2 multi-grain roti – cauliflower / cabbage curry |
– 1 cup brown rice with rajma sabzi | – baked vegetable platter (beans, carrot, broccoli, baby corn, mushroom) | – 1 cup rice – tomato rasam – spinach roast – roasted papad |
– 1 cup rice – curd – beetroot poriyal – stir fried bhindi |
– jeera rice + dal – gobi sabzi – dal |
– 2 millet rotis – 1 bowl dal with methi – ¼ cup tomato raita |
| Before Bedtime | – 1 cup low-fat milk (can infuse with ginger/haldi) | – 1 cup low-fat milk (can infuse with ginger/haldi) | – 1 cup low-fat milk (can infuse with ginger/haldi) | – 1 cup low-fat milk (can infuse with ginger/haldi) | – 1 cup low-fat milk (can infuse with ginger/haldi) | – 1 cup low-fat milk (can infuse with ginger/haldi) | – 1 cup low-fat milk (can infuse with ginger/haldi) |
Improve your heart health with the right health care products.
Order online on PharmEasy and get great discounts in just a few clicks!
As a non-vegetarian, you can get certain nutrients more easily without using supplements. However, red meats and fatty cuts of some meat foods to avoid heart disease. You need to stay away from anything that has saturated fats and high levels of cholesterol. Eating eggs is good but make sure you limit the number of egg yolks you eat to 2 or 3 a week. Another common problem among non-vegetarians is high salt intake. While you follow this diet plan for heart patients, make sure you limit it to no more than 2.5 grams of salt per day.
| SAMPLE INDIAN NON-VEGETARIAN DIET CHART FOR HEART PATIENTS 7 DAY MEAL PLAN | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
| Early Morning (6am – 7am) | – 1 glass of coconut water | – fruits like apple, banana, mango | – nuts (5 almonds +5 walnuts) | – 1 glass of milk | – 1 glass of wheatgrass juice | – 1 glass of coconut water | – fruits like apple, banana, mango |
| Breakfast (8am – 9am) | – 2 green mung dosas (pesarettu) – vegetable sambar (drumsticks, radish) – tomato chutney |
– 2 multi-grain bread egg sandwiches (2 boiled egg whites) – small cup steamed broccoli – 1 plate cucumber |
– 1 cup oatmeal or oats khichdi – 1 cut apple – 1 egg white |
– 2 egg dosas – sambar – peanut chutney |
– 1 cup mixed veg poha – 1 scrambled egg white |
– 3 idlis – vegetable sambar (drumsticks, radish) – Peanut chutney |
– 1 egg white – 1 paratha |
| Mid Morning Snack (11am – 11:30am) | – salad or soup or buttermilk without salt | – salad or soup or buttermilk without salt | – salad or soup or buttermilk without salt | – salad or soup or buttermilk without salt | – salad or soup or buttermilk without salt | – salad or soup or buttermilk without salt | – salad or soup or buttermilk without salt |
| Lunch (1pm – 2pm) | – 1 cup brown rice – 1 cup fish curry (2pc) – boiled beans – 1 cup raita – roasted papad |
– 2 multi-grain roti – 1 bowl shredded chicken curry with beans – onion tomato raita |
– 1 cup brown rice – dal with spinach – beans carrot poriyal |
– 2 multi-grain roti – bhindi masala gravy – 1 small cup curd |
– 2 methi multi-grain parathas – egg bhurji – raitha |
– 3 phulkas – dal tadka – fish/prawn gravy |
– chicken rice – veg stir fry gravy |
| Evening Snack (4pm – 6pm) | – vegetable upma + tomato soup | – 1 cup curd with black salt and roasted peanuts | – 1 plate cut cucumber with salt and pepper – 2 multi-grain crackers |
– 1 glass buttermilk – 2 methi khakhras |
– 1 glass fruit juice – 2 multi-grain crackers |
– coffee – bhel puri |
– 1 cup sprout salad or – 1 cup corn peanut salad |
| Dinner (8pm – 9pm) | – 2 multi-grain roti – cauliflower/ cabbage curry |
– 1 cup brown rice with rajma sabzi | – baked chicken and vegetable platter (beans, carrot, broccoli, babycorn, mushroom) | – 2-3 slices toasted multi-grain bread – 1 large bowl chicken and vegetable stew |
– 1 cup rice – curd – beetroot poriyal – stir fried bhindi |
– jeera rice + dal – gobi sabzi – roasted papad |
– 2 millet rotis – 1 bowl dal with methi – ¼ cup tomato raita |
| Before Bedtime | – 1 cup low-fat milk (can infuse with ginger/haldi) | – 1 cup low-fat milk (can infuse with ginger/haldi) | – 1 cup low-fat milk (can infuse with ginger/haldi) | – 1 cup low-fat milk (can infuse with ginger/haldi) | – 1 cup low-fat milk (can infuse with ginger/haldi) | – 1 cup low-fat milk (can infuse with ginger/haldi) | – 1 cup low-fat milk (can infuse with ginger/haldi) |
Manage your heart disease better with the right medicines.
Order them from PharmEasy and get them delivered to your doorstep.
The keto or ketogenic diet is a low-carb diet that has become popular as a quick way to lose weight. It works by minimizing carbs and prioritizing protein and fat instead. The diet leads the body to a metabolic state known as ketosis where the body uses fat as its primary source of energy instead of carbs.
When the body is in ketosis, it converts fat into ketones which are metabolized by the liver. The benefits of this diet include dramatic weight loss and reduced sugar levels.
However, it also has its downside. It can be difficult to adapt to a keto diet since a lot of traditional meals are not keto compatible. There is also a side effect known as keto flu while the body adjusts to the change. This can involve increased thirst, unstable appetite, headaches and frequent urination. These are signs that your body is entering ketosis.
The key is to reduce your carb intake to around 10% – 15% of what you eat. Reducing carbs completely is not recommended and may actually prevent you from reaching ketosis. Focus on getting your carbs from healthy whole foods like whole grains and vegetables.
Here’s what you are advised to eat when you are on a keto diet:
Fatty meats (Chicken, turkey, pork and beef)
Fatty Fish (Tuna, mackerel, salmon)
Eggs
Avocados
Nuts and seeds (Flaxseeds, walnuts, chia seeds, almonds, macadamia nuts, etc)
Butter and cream (Grass-fed or free-range)
Oils (Olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil)
Leafy green vegetables (Spinach, kale, amaranth, lettuce)
Low carbohydrate veggies (Tomatoes, onions, capsicum)
Spices and herbs
Unprocessed Cheese
Here are the foods you want to avoid when you’re on the keto diet:
Foods with added sugar (Soda, cake, ice cream, fruit juices)
Starchy grains (wheat, rice)
Fruits (Small quantities of berries are ok.)
Low-fat versions of condiments (salad dressing, mayonnaise)
Tuberous or root vegetables (potato, yam, carrots)
Processed oils
Beans (peas, lentils, chickpeas, kidney beans)
The keto diet requires you to be quite strict with your carb intake, so it is a good idea to keep healthy snacking items like cucumber or nuts if you are feeling hungry between meals.
The keto diet is great for weight loss and controlling sugar, is it the best diet for heart patients?
Pros
Helps in weight loss
Reduced inflammation and oxidative stress are good for the blood vessels and blood pressure.
Diabetes compounds the risk of heart disease. Reduced sugar levels from the keto diet can help reduce that risk.
Cons
It is difficult to get used to the keto diet and maintain it in the long term. Getting back to a routine diet after following Keto can be stressful for the body and may lead to a bounce back of lost weight.
Some of the foods that form an important part of the keto diet are high in saturated fats and cholesterol (fatty meats like pork, beef and eggs)
It can be expensive to follow a thorough keto diet.
There is not enough research to suggest the keto diet is a completely safe heart patient diet, especially considering some staple keto ingredients.
Can increase the risk of hypoglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis in persons with diabetes.
Can lead to nutritional deficiencies if not planned well.
If you want to try the keto diet, it might be a good idea to work with a nutritionist along with the consent of your cardiologist to create a keto diet chart for heart patients. This way, you will be able to avoid the negative aspects of the keto diet on heart health.
The best diet plan for heart patients is the one that can be followed easily over a long period of time. Keto and extreme diets should be avoided and a diet plan suggested by a registered nutritionist, approved by your cardiologist should be followed.
Supplement the treatment of your heart disease with the right health care products.
Order online on PharmEasy and get great discounts in just a few clicks!
Heart surgery is a major operation and usually, your doctor will have prescribed a heart patient diet after bypass surgery or any other heart surgery. However, it is a good idea to slowly expand what you can eat overtime to stay on track with healthy eating habits that will combat the narrowing of your arteries, also known as atherosclerosis.
Usually, after surgery, you will feel a loss of appetite, so you can shift to smaller, more frequent meals until you get back to normal. After any heart surgery, following a general heart-healthy diet for atherosclerosis is important but you can make subtle changes depending on your condition.
The National Intervention Council (NIC) reports that around 4.75 lakh patients in India undergo an angioplasty every year. Recovering from an angioplasty requires plenty of rest and a diet plan for heart patients.
Eat 5 – 6 small meals a day to make it easier for your body to digest.
Eat more berries, nuts, fruits and vegetables.
Use heart-healthy oils like safflower oil, olive oil or avocado oil.
Eat more fibre rich foods
Eat fatty fish 3 – 5 times a week.
Eat whole grains like barley, oats and brown rice
Post-surgery, you should follow some restrictions with respect to your water consumption for 45 days. So, make sure your water intake is as per the doctor’s advice.
Eat chicken but avoid red and processed meats completely.
Avoid processed or refined grains
No deep-fried food
Reduce salt intake to less than 2.5 grams a day.
Do not add sugar to juices, tea or any other beverage. Use artificial sweetener instead.
Following a strict diet is extremely important to heal faster and lead a healthy life.
A heart attack occurs when a blockage in the arteries or the heart causes an increase in blood pressure which in turn causes damage to the heart muscles. If you have had a heart attack, then during your recovery, your highest priority should be eating foods good for high blood pressure and resting until you are fully recovered.
The blockages in your arteries are usually caused by a buildup of plaque that is made out of cholesterol, fat and some other substances. This is also known as inflammation or atherosclerosis. Your doctor will prescribe a list of foods to avoid after a heart attack, these are almost always foods that cause inflammation.
Eating anti-inflammatory foods that increase your good cholesterol (HDL) and decrease your bad cholesterol (LDL) is an important step towards getting back to good health. Foods like fatty fish, avocados, nuts, seeds and berries are good examples of foods you would eat in a diet for atherosclerosis.
Foods that contain saturated fats, cholesterol and trans fats are inflammatory foods.
While you are recovering from your heart attack, follow these steps:
Avoid oily food and go for steamed or boiled cooking instead.
Reduce your salt intake to less than 2.5 grams a day.
Eat smaller meals spread throughout the day.
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables to get more fibre.
Eat fish or take omega 3 fatty acid supplements (cod liver oil).
Replace processed and refined grains with whole grains.
It takes around 6 – 8 weeks to make a full recovery after cardiac bypass surgery. During that time, it is important to get plenty of rest and give your heart the time it needs to recover. Coronary bypass surgery is needed when an artery or set of arteries become too narrow and the risk of a heart attack is high.
Arteries narrow down due to atherosclerosis or a buildup of plaque along the artery walls. This buildup is usually caused due to a poor diet. In the weeks leading up to your complete recovery, you should build the habit of a heart-healthy diet after bypass surgery so that you can recover faster and prevent another heart attack from happening.
Here are some of the food options you may add to your diet after bypass surgery:
Fish
Omega 3 supplements (Cod liver oil)
Whole grains (Barley, oats, brown rice)
Fruits (Strawberries, avocados, apple, papaya, guava, etc.)
Leafy greens (Spinach, lettuce, amaranth)
Vegetables (Cauliflower, cabbage, bhindi)
Nuts (Walnut, almond)
Legumes (Beans, dal, peas, sprouts, chana)
Chicken
Make sure to keep your salt content below 2.5 grams a day and use as little oil as possible for best results. Do not eat fast food of any kind and avoid eating out in general as much as possible.
Boost your heart health with the right medicines and supplements.
Order them online from PharmEasy and get them home delivered!
There are several steps on the way to making the best diet for heart patients. The key is to constantly search for ingredients that have the right nutritional profile and to adopt cooking styles that are healthier.
Heart patient diet foods include high quantities of soluble fibre that can help reduce your bad cholesterol, also known as LDL. Reduced LDL levels prevent the buildup of plaque in your arteries, which can increase your blood pressure.
Proteins are key nutrients that are needed to build and maintain the body. Proteins are responsible for healing, closing up wounds and controlling our muscles. Enzymes and hormones are types of proteins that play a key part in the balance of the human body. Getting sufficient quantities of protein enables many crucial processes in the body.
Fried foods increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. This is one of the reasons fast foods are never on a diet chart for heart patients. Hydrogenated vegetable oils are especially bad because they produce large quantities of trans fats which cause inflammation in the body.
Research that included over 750,000 people found that people who ate more fried and oil heavy food had a 28% increase in their risk of cardiovascular disease and 37% more chance of heart failure.
When making heart patient diet food, use smaller quantities of the right kinds of oil. Here are some good heart-healthy options
Groundnut oil
Rice bran oil
Canola oil
Safflower oil
Olive oil
Coconut oil
Sesame oil
Avocado oil
Safflower oil is the best option for pan-frying and deep-frying since it has one of the highest smoke points among cooking oils. The smoke point is the level of heat at which the oil is no longer stable and starts breaking down. Olive oil is better for baking and stir fry cooking.
High quantities of sodium have been linked with an increased risk of heart disease and heart failure. In addition to the trans fats from deep frying, high salt content in fast foods is one of the reasons they are considered to be bad for the heart.
According to WHO, consuming more than 5 grams of salt a day can contribute to increased blood pressure and risks of heart disease. The majority of people consume around 9 – 12 grams of salt a day on average, which is far higher than the maximum level recommended.
Try to keep your salt consumption down by eating foods that can be enhanced by different flavours and spices instead of salt.
A single tablespoon of methi comes with an impressive nutritional profile that includes plenty of protein, fibre, carbs and micronutrients like iron, magnesium and manganese, making it one of the best ingredients to use in the heart patient diet food.
Fenugreek has been used as an alternative medicine for centuries in India. It is well known for its ability to lower blood sugar levels. It is also considered to be an ingredient that can help control appetite and make it easier to go on a diet.
Although research has yet to confirm it, methi reportedly helps to reduce the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood. It is also helpful for people who suffer from heartburn.
Eating multiple servings until we are full is not a good way to control our diets. It is as important to eat the right quantities of food as it is to eat the right kind of food. Portion control is a crucial part of meal planning and following a diet chart.
Use a consistent serving spoon so you understand your own unique serving sizes. Alternatively, use your hands as a measurement guide while cooking.
Use smaller plates and bowls that can hold your full meal in one helping. You can control how much of each dish you eat through this method.
When you eat out, especially at a fast-food joint, ask for a half portion.
Drink water before meals to help fill your stomach. Even if you consume enough calories, our instincts push us to eat till our stomachs are full.
The brain can take up to 20 minutes to understand that you have eaten a full meal, so take your time and eat slowly to let it catch up.
Never eat straight from the packet or container. Always use your regular bowls and plates to maintain control.
Track your serving sizes and keep optimizing them to give you the right amount of nutrition. This will also give you the confidence that you are doing it right.
If you aren’t careful, the treats you eat while snacking can undo your hard work pretty easily. Take care to make these decisions wherever possible to stay on track with your diet.
Snacks are better when they are baked, boiled, steamed and roasted instead of fried.
Fruit flavoured products are usually unhealthy. Stick to fruits and homemade fruit juices without adding sugar.
Find replacements for your favourite snacks with different ingredients and cooking methods. For example – Make wheat-based samosas instead of maida and bake them instead of roasting.
Always avoid eating snacks out of the container. This will cause you to eat more than you should. You should eat the correct portions at the right time between meals to avoid feeling hungry.
Avoid salty snacks since they can raise your blood pressure and put stress on your heart.
Eating at the right times is important when it comes to sticking to a diet. If you put off meal times, then you will find it more difficult to fight the urge to eat whatever you are craving or whatever is available even if it is unhealthy. Try to consistently follow the timings you set on your diet plan for heart patients so that your routine gets well set.
If you find yourself getting hungry more frequently, you should think about adding a light snack between meals or slightly increasing your portion sizes. One neat trick is to eat more cucumbers to keep yourself feeling full. Since it is made mostly out of the water and doesn’t have much in the form of carbs or fats, it is a safe bet for snacking at any time.
By following a set pattern and routine, you will set yourself up for success. Over time, following the diet will give you a better understanding of your portion sizes, what dishes work and what needs to be changed. This understanding only comes with regular efforts and paying attention to your diet.
Following a diet is much easier when you build habits around it and adapt to it completely. By planning the rest of your day around meal prep and mealtimes, you will be able to follow your diet on auto-pilot after some time.
Exercise is almost as important as diet when it comes to keeping healthy. Make sure you get some amount of physical activity every day. Walking for 20 – 30 minutes around 5 times a week is a great way to give your body the exercise it needs.
You can also try simple exercises like skipping, yoga, bodyweight exercises, etc to keep yourself in shape. Exercise has a lot of benefits for your heart health. Combined with a good heart-healthy diet, exercise can do wonders for heart patients.
WHO recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of exercise per week to maintain good overall health.
Having a drink and a cigarette can increase the speed at which your arteries stiffen up. Stiffer arteries lead to higher blood pressure and a greater risk of heart disease. Smoking also impacts cardiovascular health by weakening the capacity of the lungs, forcing the heart to work harder to keep pumping oxygen-rich blood to the body.
Working with a professional can help you figure out several things about your new diet. You can tailor your meal planning and diet options based on your preferences and favourite ingredients.
A nutritionist can take you away from the negative perspective of “What should I avoid?” and make you focus instead on “What food can I eat that is tasty and healthy?”.
Over time, with the help of a nutritionist, you will have an end to end understanding of the new diet you should be following based on your personal circumstances, exercise goals and several other factors.
Manage the symptoms of your heart disease with the right medicines!
Order online on PharmEasy and get it home delivered at your convenience!
Every cuisine has its fair share of healthy and unhealthy foods. Indian food has a lot of heart-healthy options to offer and by tweaking them with the right ingredients and cooking methods, you can make them even better. Indian food uses a lot of whole grains, leafy greens and vegetables that offer high fibre content.
Indian food staples are wheat, rice, pulses, vegetables, fruits, meat and a variety of herbs and spices. The most common foods in an Indian diet are roti, rice, curries (vegetable and meat) and dal. It is a vast cuisine with many different ingredients and cooking styles that you can include in a diet chart for heart patients.
Planning your meals does not directly help you improve your heart health. Instead, it helps you follow and maintain your diet with consistency, thereby positively impacting your heart health. Creating a diet plan for heart patients pushes you to grocery shop more effectively and follow all your dietary requirements more easily.
Diet charts for heart patients are designed to work over the long term. If you break away from the meal plan but still follow the restrictions and guidelines of your diet, there should be no issue. If you have broken your meal plan to eat something that’s not allowed by your diet, consider it a cheat meal and go back to eating the right foods.
Every once in a while, you are likely to crave certain foods which aren’t good for you but they’re so tasty, you don’t want to give them up forever. This is how the cheat day was found. Depending on how strictly you need to follow your diet, you can have a cheat day once a month or every 2 weeks. The cheat day allows you to indulge yourself with treats that you’ve been forced to remove on your diet chart for heart patients. Make sure you don’t go overboard though, since it can set back the progress you are making with your diet.
The keto diet is popularised as a great way to lose weight but it depends heavily on consuming large quantities of fat. It can be quite difficult to avoid consuming saturated fats while on the keto diet. Saturated fats are not good for the heart and increase the risk of heart disease like atherosclerosis. The keto diet is also known to boost LDL and triglyceride levels in the blood at the start of the diet before it is brought under control. As a heart patient, if you are keen on trying the keto diet, consider contacting your doctor or dietitian to discuss the risks for you personally and to make a keto diet plan for heart patients.
The cardiac diet menu consists of the ingredients that have a positive impact on your heart health, particularly on your cholesterol levels. On a cardiac diet, you eat more whole foods and avoid processed foods completely. The diet focuses on whole grains, vegetables, fruits, lean meats, fatty fish, nuts, seeds and legumes while asking you to minimize red meat, processed foods, processed grains, deep-fried fast food, etc.
There is no single best meal or breakfast for a heart patient. Each person is different and responds to meals differently. However, a bowl of cut fruits with berries, leafy greens, sprouts, nuts and seeds comes close. It is a filling, healthy and extremely flexible option. You can add whatever ingredients you like and remove the ones you don’t. There is no need to cook anything, which makes it possible for anyone to make it for their breakfast. You can even make it beforehand and store it in the fridge but it is always better to eat freshly cut fruits.
Chicken is lean meat that does not contain high levels of cholesterol or unsaturated fats. After fish, chicken is the best conventional meat for your heart health. However, it is important how you cook it. Deep-fried chicken and other salt-rich fast foods that are made from chicken are still bad for you. The best way to eat chicken is boiled, steamed, baked or roasted with herbs and spices to add flavour with a small amount of salt.
Leave a Comment