Cardiac Diet Guidelines

Cardiac diet guidelines comply with health information as set forth by the American Heart Association. The guidelines include eating a diet rich in beneficial foods that help clear your body of harmful cholesterol. You also need to become aware of which foods can have the opposite effect upon your heart health. Your cardiac diet guidelines do not stop with food, however. You also need to get moving physically in order to gain the best cardiac results.

Foods That Help Your Heart

You need to eat foods classified as heart healthy, according to the American Heart Association and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. These foods are high in fiber and antioxidants. Heart healthy foods include a variety of whole grains such as barley, oats, quinoa, millet, bulgur, whole wheat, brown rice and triticale; dry and canned beans and lentils; low-fat protein such as poultry and fish; plant sterols such as soy foods including tofu, tempeh, soy milk and soybeans; flax seeds; and fruits and vegetables.

Foods That Can Harm Your Heart

Foods with saturated and/or trans fats in them need to be monitored, according to the American Heart Association and the Mayo Clinic. Saturated and trans fats can increase your harmful LDL cholesterol.

Saturated fats are found in animal products such as red meats and whole-fat dairy foods. They also are found in processed foods, crackers, breads and deep fried foods. Trans fats are common in foods made with partially hydrogenated oils and shortening. Some examples are energy bars and commercially prepared baked goods.

Health Benefits

Following cardiac diet guidelines will increase your overall health functioning in a variety of beneficial ways. In addition to lowering your "bad" (LDL) cholesterol level, you can improve your "good" (HDL) cholesterol level. According to the American Heart Association, complying with a heart healthy diet will improve your cardiovascular functioning and your lung capacity. It can decrease your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and certain forms of cancer as well as improve insulin levels. Weight maintenance is easier by following a cardiac diet.

Cooking Methods

Make certain your food is prepared in a manner that helps your cardiovascular system. According to the American Heart Association and the Mayo Clinic, you can increase your LDL cholesterol level by choosing an unhealthy cooking method such as deep frying. Recommended food preparation methods include steaming, grilling, poaching and baking.

Additional Considerations

Know the contents of what you are eating. Learn to read food labels. The American Heart Association states that you need to be aware of how much fat you are consuming. Saturated and trans fats, along with healthy fats and oils such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated varieties, will be listed on the food's nutrition label. The Mayo Clinic states that even the smallest amount of trans fats, such as 0.5 milligrams, can be harmful in your cardiac diet.

Get Moving

Exercise should be part of any cardiac diet guidelines. The American Heart Association states that 30 minutes daily of moderate exercise--ranging from walking to household activities--for at least five days per week can help lower your LDL cholesterol level. The association recommends a walking program due to its low dropout rate. Choose exercise you are comfortable with to increase your likelihood of sticking with it. Also, choose alternate exercises to avoid the chance of boredom.