Heart Attack: Diet Matters

A heart attack diet is an essential part of a cardiac rehabilitation program.  When carefully planned and thought out,  a heart attack diet and nutrition plan  can either prevent a heart attack if you have never had one and are at risk, or can prevent a re occurrence.  But what to eat?  Eating healthy foods, including whole foods is the absolute key, as well as a largely vegetarian diet of fresh veggies and fruit, as well as whole grains and some heart healthy nuts and seeds.
During the first week following a heart attack, it’s important to take it easy.  Your heart attack diet should include several mini meals, all of them low sodium.  Also avoid cold liquids.  Some veggies to try are asparagus and carrots.  Both are easy on the system, low in salt, and provide essential nutrients.

It is also important to include essential fatty acids in your heart attack diet plan.  Look for  unrefined, cold pressed nut and seed oils like flax seed oil.  You can mix it into any foods that doesn’t require heating, or use it as a salad dressing with vinegar.  The fatty acids help to keep your arteries clear by reducing blood cholesterol levels.

Another important component to a heart attack diet, is to stay away from saturated fats and trans fats.  Most red meats are high in saturated fats.  Also, avoid things like shortening, margarine, and processed foods.  Instead find your protein in things like beans, soy, and fish or chicken.

Other great foods to add to a heart attack diet are magnesium rich foods like tofu, broccoli, and spinach, as well as garlic.  Garlic has been shown to lower cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as lower blood pressure.

Also things like almonds and walnuts, cayenne pepper, sea veggies and sea kelp, as well as onions are great additions to a heart attack diet, to keep your body functioning at it’s optimum health level.  Just be consistent, and your health will improve!

Another key factor in preventing heart disease is not only watching your diet, but also adding exercise to your daily routine. This is often over looked, but it can help you take off excess pounds and give you more energy and motivation to eat better. If you eat right and exercise, you surely will lose weight fast, really faster than you ever realized, and in return, will reduce your risk for heart disease. Diet AND exercise matters!