Suffering from a heart attack or developing any cardiovascular disease can be quite traumatic. Amongst a host of other factors, diet plays a major role in the recovery of a heart patient. What, how, and when you eat requires meticulous scrutiny and tailoring according to the doctor’s guidelines.
Following a heart healthy diet can work wonders for your recovery and prevent a relapse. Here are some ideas to incorporate to create delicious and healthy meals for heart patients:
Can Unhealthy Food be Healthy?
A common misconception is that the best diet for heart attack patients tends to be bland and to an extent unpalatable. Here’s what you must keep in mind – it’s not the food itself, rather, it’s the ingredients you use.
Anything can be harmful or healthy as long as you choose the ingredients wisely. For instance, if you are fond of sweets, a great sweet food to enjoy is gluten-free blueberry muffins (replace sugar with a healthier alternative like honey or jaggery). In this case, avoiding gluten altogether makes the muffins healthier. Blueberries are rich in antioxidants, making them a great addition.
Stay Under 1,200 Calories
Keeping the calorie count under 1,200 can help you create great heart healthy meal plans for yourself or your loved ones. By watching the calories, you can make sure that you’re able to account for any snacking throughout the day in a manner that is totally balanced. This way, you do not have to always feel guilty over an extra sandwich. You can balance it out by subtracting something else from the next meal.
Stick to the Basics
When you think of a healthy diet for heart disease patients, there are certain basics that are an absolute must. This heart healthy foods list includes:
- Leafy greens
- Avoiding fried food
- Substituting regular bread and pasta with wholegrain bread, noodles, pasta, cereal, and rice
- Including at least 150g of fish per week (this works even when you are planning a heart disease prevention diet)
- Incorporating at least 6 eggs per week in your diet
- Avoiding salty, sugary, and fatty foods
- Plain unsalted nuts
- Choosing lean meat over processed meats like sausages and salami
- Cooking food in healthier oils and fats (ghee) instead of regular ones.