Diet For Obesity And Low Carbohydrate Diet For Heart Patients

My family has the history of heart attack and in physique all are bit obese. Can you suggest a healthy dietary regime for us.

Hi! I understand your anxiety. Obesity is one of the leading factors, which contribute to heart attack. This calls for the weight pattern of your family. A healthy diet with regular exercise, shall help your family to overcome heart attack and other related complications. Dietary regimen is the most vital ingredient, both in the case of prevention and rehabilitation. A complete diet with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, pulses, seeds and nuts proves beneficial. Salt restriction and small meals are very important for individuals, after an attack. Raw fruits and vegetables have an added advantage of enzyme availability. They also provide various vitamins and minerals, which act as natural antioxidants. Fat intake and type of fat are very crucial. Flaxseed oil helps in the removal of clogs from arteries. Linolenic and linoleic acid in olive oil reduces the cholesterol levels.

Diet For Coronary Heart Disease

Whole foods are a good substitute for processed and packaged foods. Decrease the intake of alcoholic beverages. Caffeinated beverages are taken in restricted quantities. Protein is beneficial. Protein is derived from lean meat, deskinned poultry, fish and egg white. Avoid whole eggs, as the yolk has a high concentration of cholesterol. Frozen foods, such as fish and meat are not preferred. Cured, smoked, canned and salted fish, meat and poultry contain excessive salt. Opt for lean cuts of meat, such as the sirloin. Red meat is marbled with fat and is not recommended. Small meals are a better alternative for large meals. Monounsaturated fats such as peanut oil, olive oil and flaxseed oil are useful. Sunflower, safflower and soybean oil are polyunsaturated fats. Saturated fats such as clarified butter, margarine, lard and butter are a complete ‘no-no’.

Trans fatty acids and hydrogenated fats, such as margarine and shortening, increase the incidence of heart disease. Magnesium rich foods aid in the maintenance of the heart and its functioning. Wheat germ, chard, tofu, spinach, broccoli and potatoes have a high content of magnesium. Onion is a good source of antioxidants. Garlic is highly effective for heart patients and others. It decreases the risk of thrombus formation. It also reduces the ‘bad’ cholesterol and blood pressure. Cayenne pepper dilates the arterial lumen and thus lowers the cholesterol. Brewer’s yeast, sesame seeds, almonds and grains are included.

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