How to Eat Heart Healthy

By Jerod Roth, RRT

How to Eat Heart Healthy

By: Jerod Roth, RRT, THTC Director of Cardiopulmonary Services 

Here are some tips to start you on your way to a heart healthy diet.

• First, limit the high fat, high cholesterol food items in your diet. Foods high in fat and cholesterol can put you at a high risk for heart disease by clogging your arteries. Foods to avoid or limit are red meats, cakes/cookies, ice cream, butter, cheese, cream, and whole milk. Some healthy alternatives include fish, poultry, and lean meats (meats with 10% fat or less).
• Get some fiber in your life with foods like whole grains, fruits, dark colored vegetables, beans, and or legumes. Whole grains are a great benefit to help regulate a healthy blood pressure.
• Limit your sodium intake by cutting down on preprocessed foods such as canned goods and frozen foods. Cut down on deli foods like lunch meats/cheeses, trail and summer sausages. Also, limit condiments that are high in sodium, along with many sport drinks and juices.
• Finally, and I think this is the most important tip, monitor your food portion sizes. If we all could eat more in moderation, we would have a much healthier and more fit society.

I truly hope this can help you become more aware of how to start eating in a heart healthy manner.