Diet for Cardiac Patients

According to the Mayo Clinic, cardiac disease is the leading global killer of men and women. Cardiac patients are being treated for a wide range of diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels, including coronary artery disease, heart rhythm abnormalities (arrhythmias) and congenital heart defects. Cardiac diseases generally refer to disorders involving blocked or narrowed blood vessels that can cause heart attacks, strokes or chest pain (angina). Many cardiac patients lessen their risk of cardiac episodes with healthy lifestyle choices, including proper diet and exercise.

The DASH Diet

The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet is prescribed for many cardiac patients by their physicians and has been proven to alleviate cardiac symptoms in National Institutes of Health (NIH) studies. The DASH diet is based on a low-sodium, fiber-rich eating plan that contains vegetables, fruits and low-fat dairy products.

Reduce Sodium and Increase Potassium

Selecting foods low in salt and sodium as well as high in potassium are key components to healthy eating for cardiac patients. Excessive salt intake increases body fluid volume, impairing the body's natural blood-pressure regulators. The NIH recommends limiting sodium intake to between 1,500mg and 2,400mg per day. This equals approximately 2/3 to 1 tsp. of salt. Processed, overly-salted prepared foods such as canned salted vegetables, fast food and frozen pizza should also be omitted from your diet. A low-sodium and high-potassium diet also reduces the effects of adrenaline on the body during times of stress.

Fiber-RIch Diet

A high-fiber diet is effective in the prevention and treatment of many types of cardiac diseases. Water-soluble fibers such as oat bran and psyllium are of particular benefit in reducing cholesterol and blood pressure.

Vegetarian Lifestyle

NIH studies have found that vegetarians typically have lower blood-pressure levels as well as a lower incidence of all cardiac diseases. These studies determined that a standard vegetarian diet includes more fiber, complex carbohydrates, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and vitamins C and A, in addition to a lower intake of sodium. All of these factors are believed to contribute to the prevention of cardiac episodes.