Diet for a Healthy Heart

In order to have a healthy heart and a low LDL level people should learn and adopt the benefits of a heart healthy diet. Everything you eat affects your heart’s health. You need to learn about those food types, which can lower your blood cholesterol level, and give you a healthy nutritional plan, protecting your heart and overall health. No matter what type of diet you choose to follow, and what type of food is included, there are some basic recommendations, which should be followed in a Diet for a Healthy Heart.

A good and heart healthy diet includes the followings: less than 300 milligrams of cholesterol intake per day, fat intake, which is less than 30% from the total daily calorie intake while the saturated fatty acid intake should be only 10%. Additives like MSG, chemicals and food like caffeine should be excluded from the meal plan as much as possible and the sodium intake per day should not go over 2000 milligrams. By lowering the sodium intake you will be able to combat high blood pressure and improve overall heart health. Polyunsaturated fatty acid and Monounsaturated fatty acids should also stay on the constant limit of 10% of total daily calories.

Food products from animal sources are containing the highest amount of cholesterol and trans fats together with saturated fats, which enable our body to produce cholesterol. Food types like eggs, butter, poultry, meats, cheese and whole milk are those animal source foods, which are high in fats and cholesterol, so the frequent consumption of these foods should be avoided if you want to take proper care of your heart.

But a heart-healthy diet isn't just about what you shouldn't eat. It also means eating a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, high fiber foods, whole grains, fish, low fat dairy products and lean meat and poultry. These food types give you the proper nutrition and have those essential vitamins and minerals you need for a healthy heart and body. A heart healthy diet should always contain at least 30-35 milligrams of dietary fiber every day, so eat as much legumes, fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grain as possible for heart protection.