Diet plan of people suffering with Cardiac problems

Diet plan of people suffering with Cardiac problems is essential part of the cardiac treatment.

Few key factors

➢ Low sodium/salt intake

➢ Add fish to your diet, specially tuna

➢ Reduce tea/coffee

➢ Less than seven per cent of the calories should be contributed by saturated fats. Fats are solids and saturated. Hence, go in for oils, which are liquids at room temperature. Vegetable oils, such as olive oil, groundnut oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, soya bean oil, flax seed oil are heart friendly. Trans fats and saturated fats, such as butter, hydrogenated fats, clarified butter and margarine are completely avoided. Foods rich in trans fats are fried fish, bakery products, french fries, bread and margarine sticks. 


➢ Liberal intake of fibrous foods, which are cardiac friendly and aid in digestion and reduce constipation and thus, also passively decrease the chance of heart diseases. It also reduces cholesterol. Cardiac diet thus should be comprised of high fiber count and low fat content.

➢ Fiber sources of foods are abundant in varieties; some of the popular varieties are legumes, pulses, cereals, whole grains such as barley and oats, nuts and seeds and fruits and fresh vegetables.

➢ Men below 50 years of age should take 35-38 grams of fiber and above 50 aged senior citizens should consume 30 grams of fiber every day. Women blow 50 are scheduled to consume 25 grams of fiber, and above 50 are to consume 21 gram of fiber daily basis.


➢ Nuts and seeds, are a good source of monounsaturated fats that help in increasing the HDL (High Density Lipoproteins) levels.

➢ Fruits and vegetables are a rich source of complex carbohydrates. They are devoid of cholesterol. Cholesterol is seen in animal foods. They are not seen in plant foods, though saturated fats are present in plants. They are a rich source of phyto nutrients and antioxidants. They help in removal of free radicals, which are unstable molecules.

➢ Folic acid, seen in legumes reduces the homocysteine levels. Homocysteine levels is one of the culprits behind arterial blockage.


➢ Fatty cuts of meat, whole milk, whole dairy products, foods such as egg yolk, liver, organ meat, red meat, ham, and pork are to be avoided.

➢ Maintain the ideal body weight. Obesity is a factor of concern.

➢ Balanced diet, tension free life, will surely help a cardiac patient to live a peaceful and regulated life. Modification in lifestyle includes abstinence from smoking and alcohol. Exercise works in conjunction with a strict diet. Increased activity is essential for healthy living.