What Is a Cardiac Diet?
A cardiac diet is an important part of the treatment for people with high cholesterol. People who are at risk of having a heart attack or have risk factors for heart disease may be placed on a heart healthy diet or cardiac diet to lower their cholesterol. Once you have had a heart attack, you will be restricted further based on your doctor's determination of your medication and laboratory values.
There are several types of heart conditions that require different medications and respond to different levels of nutritional components that are contained in a cholesterol lowering diet.
Some examples with definitions are :
Coronary Heart Disease or Coronary Artery Disease – Disease characterized by impaired blood flow in the coronary arteries, which can result in angina, myocardial infarction (heart attack) and sudden death.
Lipoprotiens – Particles that, by containing varying amounts of triglyceride, cholesterol, phospholipids and protein, solubilize lipids for transport in the bloodstream.
High-Density Lipoproteins – HDL – a group of plasma lipoproteins containing mostly protein and less cholesterol and triglycerides, high levels of which are associated with a decreased risk of coronary heart disease.
Low Density Lipoproteins – LDL – Class of lipoproteins that are the predominant cholesterol carriers in the blood and considered atherogenic; main target for interventions because high levels are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
In general, a heart healthy or cardiac diet controls for the amount of overall fat and specifically the amount of saturated and trans fatty acids that a person eats. The amount of fat that you eat (or should eat) is determined by your doctor or dietitian who medically evaluated your condition. Any type of menu plan or meal is going to contain protein, fat and carbohydrate as well as vitamins and minerals. In general, it is recommended that you eat less than 12% of your daily intake from saturated fats, and less than 30% of your daily intake from fat.
What is saturated fat? Fats, trans fats, and saturated fats information for a prepared product are located on the nutritional label. Saturated fat and trans fat have the strongest link to increasing cholesterol which is why they are highly restricted in this diet. While we restrict fats and sodium, we don't restrict the taste.
So, a heart healthy diet starts with understanding how many calories, fat and sodium you are allowed to eat. Then, you spread them out throughout the day and add your protein, carbohydrate, and vitamins and minerals to the equation.
What if you're not sure just how to follow a cholesterol diet menu plan? It can be hard to try to incorporate all of the information that you gather and really make an impact on your cholesterol levels. You'll need to follow a diet menu plan that works extremely well. We have a simple plan, that's easy to follow and before you know it you are well on your way to lowering your cholesterol.
YOU ASK....What is next for me?...
You need a meal plan to follow!..... So let's go see your new Cardiac Diet Meal Plan!
