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Jumat, 07 Juni 2013

Cardiac Diet Menu

If you are a cardiac patient, your doctor will likely prescribe a diet, along with medication and other therapies, to improve your cardiovascular health. Doctors recommend losing weight if you are overweight to take stress off your cardiovascular system, as well as lowering cholesterol and blood pressure levels if they are high. A cardiac diet reduces calories, sodium and saturated fat to treat the heart and blood vessels.

General Guidelines

    Foods high in saturated fats increase bad cholesterol, which builds up over time to clog arteries. Avoid foods high in saturated fats like fried foods. All animal products contain cholesterol, so limit meat intake to very lean cuts in portions no greater than 6 oz. per day. Eat fish twice per week or more.
    Increase your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables and complex carbohydrates including brown rice, whole-grain bread and whole-wheat pasta. Make more foods from scratch, or choose frozen vegetables instead of canned to avoid sodium. Reduce your sodium intake to between 1,500 to 2,300 milligrams per day, depending on your doctor's recommendation. Use herbs and salt-free herbal blends to season food instead of salt, soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce. Ask your doctor before using salt substitutes because many contain potassium, a mineral which may need to be limited based on your medical condition.

Breakfast

    Instead of bacon and eggs for breakfast, choose a low-fat, high-fiber breakfast with plenty of nutrition. Eat a bowl of high-fiber cold breakfast cereal with a half cup of low-fat or non-fat dairy or soy milk. Cut up some berries to top the cereal or eat half a grapefruit on the side, topped with a packet of sugar substitute. If your calorie intake allows, add a slice or two of whole-grain toast, topped with margarine that is labeled trans-fat free.

Lunch

    Traditional lunch choices like canned tuna and processed deli meats can contain high amounts of sodium and fat. Avoid canned soups and frozen entrees high in sodium. Have for lunch instead a mixed green salad with a small amount of low-sodium, fat-free dressing such as raspberry vinaigrette. Use cooked and chilled garbanzo beans or unsalted soy nuts to top your salad instead of meat. Eat a bit of low-fat cheese or non-hydrogenated unsalted peanut butter for protein. Add some sliced tomatoes, peppered instead of salted. If you crave sweets, try a cup of sugar-free gelatin for dessert.

Dinner

    Make meat a part of the whole meal rather than the focus of it. Load your plate with plenty of fresh steamed vegetables and whole-grain carbohydrates. Eat beef only about two or three times per week. Other nights, choose a small lean chicken breast or fresh fish fillet. Season it with garlic, lemon juice and herbs such as basil or dill. Add a healthy portion of steamed fresh green beans, topped with unsalted slivered almonds. Finish your meal by creating your own brown rice side dish using diced peppers and onions, an herbal seasoning blend and just a splash of white wine. Eat some fat-free, sugar-free pudding or some non-dairy fruit sorbet for dessert.

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