With heart failure (HF), understanding what you eat is essential to accomplishing your goals. You can get advice on heart-healthy foods from your doctor, but a dietitian is another excellent resource for this information. A dietitian may be able to spend more time with you than a physician who can be time constrained by appointment schedules.
It is standard advice to avoid foods with high saturated fats.[10] Consuming too much of them can raise your cholesterol level and lead to severe heart complications.[10] Bacon, cake, biscuits, and cheese are a few examples of foods high in saturated fat. In upcoming issues of MyWellness Magazine, we’ll write in-depth on dietary issues for heart failure.
Clients that work with a dietitian and implement their dietary plan will find positive benefits in many areas of their life
Common Sources Of Added Sugars
A diet with added sugars can worsen cardiac complications. High-sugar foods with HF can increase your risk of dying, even if you’re not overweight.[12] Some dietary items containing added sugars are: dairy desserts (yogurt, ice cream), candies, soft drinks, and juices.[12] Some individuals consume high-sugar items without knowing it. Your dietitian will educate you on these hidden sources and help make sure they do not compromise your health.
Fiber and Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Consuming dietary fiber is an excellent way to improve your diet. Some high-fiber foods you can consider include: chickpeas, lentils, barley, and berries. Fiber is beneficial for those with heart failure because it decreases inflammation, reduces blood pressure and LDL cholesterol, and thereby reduces the risk of future heart related complications.[11]
Eating foods rich in Omega 3-fatty acids can improve your heart health.[10] They work by reducing the risk of irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias) and triglycerides (a fat type). [11] Some sources of omega-3s include nuts, seeds, and plants.[11]
Make sure and ask your dietitian to suggest foods that are relevant to you. This will ensure those foods fit into your daily caloric intake and provide proper balance across your entire nutritional intake, including proteins, carbohydrates, and fats.
Specific Diets
Your dietitian might recommend a particular diet that is based on your nutritional needs, such as a Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. Your optimal diet can only be selected after your nutritional assessment.
The usual purpose of supplements is to provide your body with the required nutrition not received from your diet. While most vitamins are okay to take with heart failure, it is still important to talk about these supplements with your healthcare provider. It is good practice to advise your dietitian if you’re already taking them or if you wish to start.
With the help of a dietitian, you can work to maintain the blood lipid values that your physician or healthcare provider recommends. Clients that work with a dietitian and implement their dietary plan will find positive benefits in many areas of their life.
