Foods for heart patient

Foods to have more of

• Sweet potatoes
• Green leafy vegetables
• Carrots, Broccoli and Greens (lightly cooked to keep the carotenoids)
• Pumpkin, canned or cooked
• Squash
• 97% or greater fat free chicken or turkey breast (I look for 99% fat free.)
• Low fat tomato sauces and pasta
• Onions and Garlic (Chop or crush to release the photonutrients)
• Homemade pizza with 99% fat free chicken as meat sauce
• Foods with low/no salt for those who have high blood pressure
• Peanuts, walnuts, almonds in moderation (be careful not to gain weight)
• Olive oil and canola oil substituted for other oils, (the key is to monounsaturated fats vs trans-fatty acids or partially hydrogenated fat)
• Salmon and other fish (mackerel, sardines, herring), including the skin and fat (Research suggests this omega 3 fat (EPA fat) has the ability to raise HDLs. 1-5 servings per week recommended)
• Defatted soy flour (at least 1/3 of a cup per day recommended)
• Fat free milk (skim)
• Oatmeal, shredded wheat, low-no sugar added cereals
• Whole wheat bread
• Fresh fruits
• Apples (with skin for flavonids)
• Oranges (Eat pulpy parts for flavonids)
• Red or black grapes
• Grape juice (1 cup per day recommended)
• Grapefruit, especially pink which has 40% more beta carotene than white
• Dried fruits, especially apricots, dates, prunes
• Cantaloupes
• Fat free homemade yogurt with extra dry milk to increase the magnesium and calcium content
• Tupelo honey as a substitute for sugar in cakes, cookies, breads, etc.
• Salad dressings and dips with non-fat sour cream or homemade yogurt
• Baked whole wheat chips and tortillas
• Bean and chickpea dishes and dips
• Tomato salsas
• Walnuts (for omega3)
• Almonds and Avocados (for monounsaturated fat)
• Broccoli Sprouts

Foods to avoid

Foods to consider avoiding

• 1%, 2% and whole milk
• Meats with 96% or less fat
• Red meats
• Hydrogenated oils such as stick margarine, and when listed as an ingredient in foods
• Food with high butter fat and other animal fats, e.g., cheese, full fat yogurt, sauces
• Hot dogs, hamburgers
• Deep-fried foods
• Sugar
• Ice cream
• Salt (if you have high blood pressure)
• Candy, baked goods and ice cream made with fats
• High fat snacks, chips

Pies, pastry's, cookies made with fat and sugar (plenty of healthy cookies, pies, pastry's in my recipes)

Dietary tips for heart patients

• Try to lose weight if you are above your ideal body. This should be a gradual process, so avoid any fad diets or quick weight loss methods.
• Quality of fat is more important than quantity. Along with reducing the quantity emphasize on omega 3 fats in the diet; this can be done in the form of adding flaxseeds and fish.
• Avoid consumption of margarine, oily or fried foods, red meat, sweet preparations like cakes, pastries, margarine and carbonated drinks.
• Foods high in magnesium helps to protect heart, include foods such as broccoli, potatoes, tofu, spinach, and wheat germ.
• Include at least 8-9 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables in a day’s diet and 1 ser ving of green leafy vegetable daily.
• Avoid taking any kind of stress or strain may it be physical or psychological

References

• Diet for heart patient
• Foods to have and foods to avoid