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What Is a Healthy Cardiac Diet?

Eating healthy foods, foods that are low in cholesterol and saturated fat, is one of the most important things you can do to improve your heart and circulation. There is an abundance of information about what makes a healthy and balanced cardiac diet.

Healthy Diet

Remember, your doctor is the best source of information about your health and choosing a cardiac diet plan that is right for you. Below are some general healthy dietary guidelines based on the recommendations of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP):

  • Stick to a cardiac diet that is low in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol.
  • Eat fewer animal products and more fruits and vegetables.
  • Limit fat intake, especially saturated fat—it's the worst kind for your body.
  • Choose 2 to 3 servings of fish, shellfish, lean poultry, other lean meats, beans, or nuts daily. Trim fat from meat and take skin off poultry.
  • Eat more foods that are high in fiber. Best bets: whole grains, dry beans, peas, and lentils.
  • Stay away from heavy toppings, such as butter, cream cheese, and oil-based dressings.
  • Choose fruit as dessert more often.
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Finally, recognize the difficulty of changing your habits. It's important to give yourself non-food rewards for making good cardiac diet choices. Come up with a list of things you enjoy doing and then reward yourself when you have faithfully adhered to your cardiac diet plan. On the other hand, expect setbacks. The question is not, "Have I been perfect today?" but, "Am I making more and more good cardiac diet choices?"

Here are some tips that may help you with your cardiac diet:

  1. Gradual changes in eating habits have a better chance of leading to permanent lifestyle change.
  2. Know what you are eating. Read the nutrition facts label on all the packaged food you buy.
  3. Check product labels to learn how much food is considered to be a serving and how many calories and grams of fat are in food. You might be surprised at what counts as a full serving!
  4. If you're eating out, choose small portion sizes, share an entree with a friend, or take part of the food home (only if you can chill it right away).
  5. Be especially careful to limit portion size of foods high in calories, such as cookies, cakes, other sweets, french fries, fats, oils, and spreads.

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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