Open heart surgery is an invasive operation that requires post-surgery lifestyle and diet changes. Your diet plays a vital role in maintaining your overall heart health and is even more important in nurturing an already damaged heart. Making healthy food choices and eating less-healthy foods only in moderation are essential in healing your heart and preventing further complications. You can enjoy a flavorful diet while taking care of your heart at the same time.
Eat Fewer of These
Certain foods and ingredients should be limited after having open heart surgery. It is important to keep your arteries clear, and certain foods increase the chances of your arteries becoming blocked. The first thing you want to limit is your fat intake, particularly saturated and trans fats. These fats contribute to elevated cholesterol levels and increase your risk of future heart problems. The Mayo Clinic advises that less than seven percent of your total calorie intake per day consists of saturated fat and less than one percent consists of trans fat. Avoid packaged baked goods, such as doughnuts and cakes, because these contain a lot of saturated fat. Replace butter and shortening with trans fat-free margarine or olive oil. Limit the amount of gravy, chocolate, potato chips, fried foods and creamy sauces you eat. Additionally, be mindful of eating too many high-protein foods that also are high in fat; hot dogs, liver, whole milk, lunch meats, bacon and sausages should be eaten sparingly.
Be cautious of the amount of salt (sodium) you consume. Sodium can increase your blood pressure, which puts you at greater risk for cardiovascular disease. Your doctor probably will inform you of the maximum amount of sodium you are allowed to consume per day, typically no more than 2,000 mg. Keep in mind that many of the products you consume contain sodium, and you likely are not aware that they do. Canned goods and processed foods are, generally, high in sodium. Avoid canned soups and vegetables as well as frozen meals. Some of these foods do offer a low-sodium version, but be careful that the sodium amount that is in these food does not put you over your daily limit.
The Mayo Clinic suggests other foods that you should avoid or limit in your diet to maintain a healthy heart, such as biscuits, egg noodles, buttered popcorn, granola bars and pies.
Eat More of These
Just as some foods are bad for your heart, there are others that are quite beneficial to maintaining a healthy heart after surgery. The American Heart Association recommends choosing foods low in fat, cholesterol and salt to help prevent future damage to your heart. Fruits and vegetables are ideal choices for a heart-healthy diet following open heart surgery because they are bountiful in vitamins and minerals, have low caloric values and are often high in fiber. Fresh fruits and vegetables are also the best choices because they contain no added salt or sugar. Canned and frozen vegetables are acceptable as long as they include no or little sodium.
In addition, whole grain foods are beneficial to your heart. They contain high amounts of fiber and other essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals that help maintain blood pressure and a healthy heart. Whole grain pastas, breads and flours are all excellent choices for managing your diet after open heart surgery. Flax seed is another good source of whole grain because it helps to lower cholesterol. Flax seed can be ground up and added to a variety of foods, such as oatmeal and yogurt.
Warning
It is important to check with your doctor for specific diet requirements tailored to your individual heart-health needs.
0 comments:
Post a Comment