Diet Therapy for Patient’s with

Cardiovascular Diseases
The major cardiovascular diseases affecting the
developed world have at their core atherosclerosis and
hypertension, both of which are profoundly affected by
diet. Diet can affect the vast majority of modifiable risk
factors for cardiovascular disease. And Proper Diet
offers incredible opportunities for prevention of
cardiovascular disease.
 Cardiac Diet Menu
A cardiac diet menu is
an eating plan to help
you lower your risk of a
heart attack or a stroke.
The three main risks a
cardiac diet menu will
help you control are high
cholesterol, high blood
pressure and high body
weight. A good menu
offers incentives, too:
great flavours and great
results.
 A cardiac diet menu is rich in fresh, unprocessed foods.
Cardiac diets are created to keep hearts healthy and
strong. The cardiac diet menu is part of an overall
fitness program. In addition to a dietician or nutritionist,
a doctor, exercise trainer and other health care
professionals complete the healthy heart menu planning
team. A cardiac diet menu is different from a restaurant
menu because it serves up a full plate of exercise,
healthy living and expert advice--all the right
ingredients for long life, vigor and health.
 Three main risks a
Cardiac Menu will prevent
Cholesterol
Cholesterol

 All meats contain cholesterol, but most fish

contain less than land animals. Diets low in fat
alone don't guarantee low cholesterol. Cardiac
diet menus advise using cholesterol-lowering
unsaturated fats like canola, sunflower and
olive oil for cooking and salads. Cardiac diet
menus avoid saturated and trans fats found
mostly in red meats, dairy products, most
commercial snacks and fast foods.
 Two main Types of Cholesterol
 LDL (low density
lipoprotein) cholesterol or
bad cholesterol makes up the
majority of blood cholesterol.
 LDL cholesterol is the type
that clogs up blood vessels.
The target level for LDL
cholesterol is less than 2.0
mmol/L for people with
existing heart disease, and
less than 2.5 mmol/L for
others at high risk.
 HDL (high density
lipoprotein) cholesterol or
good cholesterol actually
helps protect against CVD by
unclogging blood vessels.
 The target level for HDL
cholesterol is more than
1.0mmol/L. You should aim to
lower your LDL cholesterol
and raise your HDL
cholesterol.
 Dietary Recommendations for
Improving Lipid Levels

 INCREASE SOY PRODUCTS

AND LEGUMES
 INCREASE GARLIC
 INCREASE SOLUBLE FIBER
 INCREASE
MONOUNSATURATED FATS
 INCREASE
MONOUNSATURATED-RICH
NUTS
 REDUCE SATURATED FATS
AND TRANS FATTY ACIDS
Blood Pressure
 Blood Pressure
 To help control high blood pressure cardiac diet menus
agree with the National Institutes of Health's Dietary
Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) plan on a daily
sodium or salt intake of less than 2,300mg, preferably as
low as 1,500mg.

 
A cardiac diet menu minimizes canned and baked
foods, which are usually high in sodium. Many fresh
fruits and vegetables, more healthful alternatives, are
not only low in sodium but are rich sources for
potassium, a nutrient important for maintaining healthy
blood pressure.
Weight Control
Weight Control

 A cardiac diet menu balances a day's food

calories against calories burned by exercise.
The American Heart Association (AHA)
recommends 1,200 and 1,500 daily calorie diets
for women and men, respectively, for a weight
loss not to exceed 1 lb. a week. For people less
than 20 percent overweight, AHA recommends
low fat intake and exercise, but advises more
restrictive diets for people more than 20
percent overweight.
Diet Recommendations for a Healthy Heart
 Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Emphasize foods that
are rich in the antioxidant substances (beta-carotene, vitamins
C and E, and selenium) that fight free radicals. Enjoy fruits,
tomatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, dark leafy greens, alfalfa
sprouts, and whole-grain products.
 Include grapes, eggplant, and red cabbage in your menu.
Experts believe that pigments called anthocyanidins in red
wine grapes may explain why moderate consumption of red
wine can help lower the risk of heart attack and stroke. (This is
called French Paradox.) This substance is known to dilate
blood vessels, which helps keep blood flowing freely.
Anthocyanidins are found in blue and purple fruits and
vegetables.
 Include garlic and onions in your diet. They contain
compounds that help to reduce serum cholesterol levels.
 Avoid grilled and barbecued foods. Carcinogens that form
during the browning process are believed to contribute to
inflammation of the arteries and the deterioration of the heart
muscle.
 Avoid stimulants such as coffee and black tea that contain
caffeine. Coffee increases stress hormones in the body, putting
coffee drinkers at greater risk of heart disease.
 Eliminate all sources of sodium from your diet. Salt contains
sodium, which increases fluid retention and makes the heart
work harder.
 How Much Is a Serving in a Heart-Healthy Diet?
Food/Amount Serving/Exchange
1 cup cooked rice or pasta 2 starch
1 slice bread 1 starch
1 cup raw vegetables or fruit 1 fruit or vegetable
1/2 cup cooked vegetables or fruit 1 fruit or vegetable
1 ounce cheese 1 high-fat protein
1 teaspoon olive oil 1 fat
3 ounces cooked meat 3 protein
3 ounces tofu 1 protein
 Top 10 Heart-healthy Foods
1. Salmon
2. Flaxseed (ground)
3. Oatmeal
4. Black or Kidney Beans
5. Almonds
6. Walnuts
7. Red wine
8. Tuna
9. Tofu
10. Brown rice
Dairy Everyday
Dairy linked to better Cardiovascular Health

Recently, research reports have specifically highlighted

the beneficial role dairy foods play in preventing CVD.
The fat in dairy foods has a reputation of being bad for
blood cholesterol levels. However, a number of studies
have found that consuming dairy foods in fact had either
a neutral or beneficial effect on HDL cholesterol (good
cholesterol). In addition, research suggests that regular
milk drinkers have a reduced risk of heart disease and
stroke.
 Dairy foods such as milk, yogurt and cheese are
important sources of at least 10 essential nutrients
including vitamins A and B12, calcium, carbohydrate,
magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, protein, riboflavin
and zinc. For good general and cardiovascular health,
make sure you get your 3 serves of dairy foods every
day. A serve of dairy could include one glass (250mL)
of milk, one tub (200g) of yogurt or two slices (40g) of
cheese. With the wide variety of dairy foods available,
there is a choice to suit everyone as part of a heart-
healthy lifestyle.
Six nutrition strategies to
reduce your risk of heart
disease
1. Eat more fish. Fish is a good source of
protein and other nutrients. It also contains
omega-3 fatty acids, which may help reduce
the risk of heart disease and stroke.
2. Eat more vegetables and fruits.
3. Avoid trans fats (for example, fats found in
fried foods, snack foods, and packaged
sweets).
4. When you use added fat, use fats high in
monounsaturated fats.
5. Avoid processed meats. Processed meats
like bacon and sausage may contain added
sodium and nitrites associated with an
increased risk of diabetes and heart disease.
6. Limit sugar. Sugars are associated with
elevated cholesterol levels, insulin resistance,
and an increased risk of heart disease.
Other Heart-Healthy Strategies:

Reduce salt intake. This will help you

control your blood pressure.
Exercise. The human body was meant to
be active. Exercise strengthens the heart
muscle, improves blood flow, reduces high
blood pressure, raises HDL cholesterol
("good" cholesterol), and helps control
blood sugars and body weight.
Hydrate. Water is vital to life. Be sure to
stay adequately hydrated.
 Nearly one half of
Americans die of
cardiovascular disease.
 The morbidity and
mortality associated with
coronary artery disease is
strongly related to
abnormal lipid levels,
oxidation of lipids and
intra-arterial clot
formation.
 Nutrition powerfully
influences each of these
factors. There is growing
evidence that patients can
improve lipid levels and
decrease the rate of
cardiovascular events by
“adding” specific foods to
their diets and switching
from saturated and
polyunsaturated to
monounsaturated fats and
n-3 fatty acids.
 Appropriate dietary
changes decrease
arteriosclerotic plaque
formation, improve
endothelial vasomotor
dynamics, reduce oxidation
of low-density lipoproteins
and enhance thrombolytic
activity. Changes in diet
can reduce the premature
mortality and morbidity
associated with coronary
artery disease.
Bibliography

 Gordner M. and Long S. (2009). Foundations and

Clinical Applications of Nutrition. Singapore:
Singapore Winsland House
 Jordan K. (2008). Cardiac Diet Menu. Livestrong.
Retrieved from: http://livestrong.com/article/10308
 Sanchez E. (2010). Diet Therapy for Preventing and
Treating Coronary Artery Disease. American Family
Physician
Thank you for listening!