High-Protein Diet for Heart Disease

Though a high-protein diet may be helpful for weight loss, restricting carbohydrates and sugar, the American Heart Association says the diet may not be the healthiest way for people with heart disease to eat. The group recommends a more rounded diet that offers a balanced menu of vitamins and minerals, which includes fruit, grains and legumes.

Fat

Many high-protein diets call for a steady diet that includes meat, eggs and cheese--foods that also are laden with fat, the very substances that should be avoided by people with heart disease. Fat clogs the arteries and restricts the flow of blood to the heart. In addition, carbohydrates help the body metabolize fat more efficiently. Low-fat diets are healthier for those recovering from heart disease.

Increase Risk

While weight loss is a major goal of those with heart disease, lowering fat content and eating a balanced level of food is more important. High levels of meat can actually increase the risk of developing heart disease for those who have not had coronary problems. Elevated levels of protein cannot be properly metabolized and can lead to additional problems including osteoporosis, liver damage and kidney disease.

Vitamins

Recovery from heart disease requires patients to include high levels of vitamins and minerals, often lacking in high-protein diets. Fruits and vegetables are important foods that need to be consumed by heart patients. Research shows that high-fiber, high-carbohydrate diets can help to reduce cholesterol, one of the major causes of heart disease. Blood pressure also is reduced when diets are full of vitamin-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables high in fiber, nonfat dairy products and whole grains.

Totals

Both the American Heart Association and the National Institutes of Health recommend that everyone eat about 50 to 60 grams of protein per day to maintain optimum heart health. A normal American diet typically tops this amount. Only about 10 percent of the day's calories should come from protein sources. Many high-protein diets call for nearly 35 percent of the day's calories from protein, a recipe for heart disease.

Plants

Plant-based proteins, such as those found in soy, react differently. Soy lowers the amount of bad cholesterol, while pumping up the good cholesterol in the body needed to build healthy bones and reduce plaque build-up in the arteries. Vegetable protein also increases the absorption of calcium for bone and kidney health.