PLAVIX (clopidogrel bisulfate)
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Recommended Cardiac Diet Guidelines

The American Heart Association has endorsed the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) diet. This healthy cardiac diet encourages intensive lifestyle changes to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk for developing heart disease or having a heart attack. The table below shows the essential components of a healthy cardiac diet.


TLC Diet Guidelines

Nutrient Recommended Intake as Percentage of Total Calories
Total Fat 25%-35%
Saturated Less than 7%
Polyunsaturated Up to 10%
Monounsaturated Up to 20%
Carbohydrate 50%-60%
Protein Approximately 15%
Cholesterol Less than 200 mg per day
Total Calories

Your cardiac diet calorie target depends on your weight and activity level. A general rule: you can calculate the calories needed to keep your weight constant by multiplying your weight in pounds by these values:
  • 10 (if sedentary or very obese)
  • 13 (low activity level or over 55 years of age)
  • 15 (moderate activity level)
  • 18 (high activity level)
  • People with diabetes or the metabolic syndrome who may substitute unsaturated fat for carbohydrates are included in the 25% to 35% fat recommendation.
  • Carbohydrates should come mainly from foods rich in complex carbohydrates. These include grains (especially whole grains), fruits, and vegetables.
  • Daily energy expenditure should include at least moderate physical activity if approved by your doctor.

Making these standards useful for you requires attention to nutrition information about the foods you eat. Nutrition labels are your best guide.

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Nutrition Labels

Remember to read nutrition labels carefully. Look closely at the percentage of total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol. It's important to realize that these percentages are the amount contained in one serving of the food product. Check the label to see how much of the food is considered to be one serving and remember that the information is based on a 2000 calorie-per-day cardiac diet.

Here are some tips that may help plan a healthy cardiac diet:

  1. Talk to your doctor about a cardiac diet plan that is right for you.
  2. Gradual changes in eating habits have a better chance of leading to permanent lifestyle change.
  3. Check product labels to learn how much food is considered to be a serving, and how many calories and grams of fat are part of your cardiac diet. You might be surprised at what counts as a full serving!
  4. With a cardiac diet, be especially careful to limit portion size of foods high in calories, such as cookies, cakes, other sweets, french fries, fats, oils, and spreads.
  5. If you are overweight, losing as little as 5% of your body weight may reduce your health risk.

Remember, your doctor is the single best source of information regarding your health and planning a cardiac diet. Please consult your doctor if you have any questions about your health or your medicines, or before starting any diet program.

What to do next:

PLAVIX is a prescription medicine recommended for people who have suffered from a recent stroke or recent heart attack or have been diagnosed with peripheral artery disease, or P.A.D. (poor circulation in the legs).*

Always talk to your doctor before taking aspirin or other medicines with PLAVIX, especially if you?ve had a stroke.

*PLAVIX is not indicated for the treatment of symptoms of P.A.D.

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