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Heart Diet

Can someone give me more information on diets for heart patients. Please provide advice on diets for a healthy heart.
(August 1, 2011)

A heart friendly diet is a low sodium and low fat diet. Heart patients and potential heart patients are usually advised to eat food that is low in salt and of course, low in fat. Heart problems can be caused by many factors but one of the main factors is cholesterol. It, therefore, becomes very important for heart patients to eat food not only low in cholesterol but also reduce cholesterol. Low fat diet is a diet without bad fats like polyunsaturated fats and trans-fats.


Good fats like monounsaturated fats can be had but in moderation. Heart patients should also increase their intake of fruits and vegetables to increase the mineral and vitamin intake along with increasing their quantum of fiber. There are even alternate therapies for treatment which suggest ingesting juices and powders of some fruits, leaves and vegetables, all of which help in reducing the threat and effects of heart disease.
Submitted by N on August 1, 2011 at 04:37

 

What foods increase heart rate


The resting heart rate is the rate of your heart beat when no activity is performed. The normal range is between 60–100 beats in a minute. To measure your resting heart rate, it is best that you do it in the morning as many factors like food and activity can affect it. Some of the foods that increase heart rate are coffee, tea, energy drinks, ginger, and fish oil. Tea and coffee have the presence of caffeine, which is a diuretic and stimulant. While having an occasional cup of tea or coffee is alright, an excessive amount can increase the heart rate. Ginger is an aromatic herb that is commonly used in many dishes. Ginger is considered to increase blood pressure, respiration rate, and heart rate.

Some of the foods that slow heart rate are dairy products, vegetables, egg whites, and fiber. Eating plenty of vegetables can significantly reduce the resting heart rate and the chances of heart disease. Vegetables contain high amounts of fiber, which reduces the absorption of saturated fat by the body. This enables the heart to remain clean so that it is not made to overwork. You can check the Internet and health books for other foods for normal heart rate.
Submitted by N on July 27, 2011 at 01:40

 

Is salt bad for your heart?


Salt for heart patients is considered to be harmful, and a reduction of salt intake can have a dramatic impact on reducing the risk of heart disease. It is thought by some heart patients that sea salt for the heart is better than table salt. However, this is a wrong assumption, and sea salt is no healthier than table salt in managing heart disease.

A high quantity of salt in the diet can bring about fluid retention, which can cause high blood pressure. When there is retention of fluid by the body, the heart is made to pump extra blood in the body. This excess blood can bring about a pressure against the walls of the blood vessels, which increases the blood pressure readings. The danger of high blood pressure is that it can increase the chances of heart disease. Table salt as well as sea salt has two main minerals, namely, chloride and sodium, although their texture and the way in which they are processed are different. The main thing to consider is that table salt and sea salt have the same sodium chloride amounts and neither salt is safe when it comes to managing heart disease. However, one of the benefits of sea salt is that due to its taste and texture there may be a lesser quantity eaten.
Submitted by N on July 20, 2011 at 01:39

 

What juice is good for your heart


Vegetables and fruits should be included in everyone’s diet to maintain a healthy body and prevent heart disease. Studies have shown that fruit juices have a more powerful anti-atherosclerotic effect than fruits themselves. Some of good fruit juices for the heart are orange juice, pomegranate juice, grape juice, and apple juice. It is said that purple or red grape products can reduce the chances of heart disease by making the blood vessels relaxed and enabling an easier flow of blood. This benefit is because of the antioxidants present in the skin and seeds of grapes, particularly purple and dark red grapes. The benefits of grape juice for the heart are preventing damage to the hearts blood vessels, maintaining a blood pressure that is healthy, and reducing the chances of blood clots.

Compounds present in apple juice known as phytonutrients act similarly to tea and red wine, i.e., breaking down the bad cholesterol. When there is the oxidation or deterioration of LDL in the blood, there is the accumulation of plaque along the coronary artery walls, which causes atherosclerosis. Pomegranate juice also helps in reducing fatty deposits from forming on the artery walls. Pomegranate juice is also considered to limit the genetic tendency towards the arteries becoming hard. Therefore, consuming fruit juice for heart disease prevention is a very effective way to protect your heart.
Submitted by N on July 13, 2011 at 01:38

 

Is fish oil good for heart?


There are many studies coming out that say consuming fish oil can reduce death from diseases of the heart. Consuming fish oil for a healthy heart is considered to be effective as it contains vitamins, polyunsaturated fats, proteins, and minerals. Omega-3 fatty acids are also present in fish, which helps in the treatment of heart disease. Fish fatty acids along with omega-3 acids can be very healthy for children as well as adults. It is recommended by the American Heart Association for consumers to have two servings of fish each week. The fish oil heart benefits include the omega-3 fatty acids, providing protection from coronary heart disease.

Fish oil also helps prevent atherosclerosis in the blood vessels from developing. With EPA and DHA the chances of the development of coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis is reduced. Atherosclerosis is a condition in which the blood vessels in the arteries are affected. This is also known as the hardening of the arteries. It has been shown by studies that DHA and EPA present in food helps in preventing the development of atherosclerosis. Fish oil for heart patients can also be beneficial as it reduces the chances of heart attacks. As a result of the benefits of fish oil to the heart, it is important that you consume sufficient quantities of it.
Submitted by N on July 6, 2011 at 01:21

 

Healthy Diet for Heart

It is important to know that the food you consume affects the heart in a major way. in order to have a healthy heart, one would need to know the kinds of food that fortify the heart. if you have other medical conditions it is best to consult the doctor to determine an eating plan that would suit your dietary needs.

Certain precautions need to be taken in matters of food -

  • In your daily diet, count the number of calories you are consuming and take care to see that the day's fat intake is less than 30 percent.
  • Out of the 30 percent of fat intake, only 10 percent must be that of saturated fatty acids.
  • Do not consume more than 10 percent of polyunsaturated fatty acids.
  • The rest of the fat intake must be made up of monounsaturated fatty acids, around 10 to 15 percent.
  • In a day, the intake of cholesterol must not exceed more than 300 milligrams.
  • Salt or sodium should be restricted to approximately 3000 milligrams per day.
  • Try not to consume foods that are filled with additives, caffeine, monosodium glutamate etc.

The lower you maintain your cholesterol, the lesser chances you would have of developing heart related conditions.
Submitted by C N on May 4, 2008 at 11:57

 
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