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Heart diseases have become a common problem throughout the globe. The burden is higher in India than in other parts of the world. Various factors increase one’s risk of developing heart disease. These factors include co-morbidities such as high blood pressure, obesity, unhealthy cholesterol levels, and environmental factors like regular consumption of junk food and unhealthy lifestyle. But, you can prevent or delay the onset of heart disease by following a healthy diet and exercise regime. This blog discusses how to manage heart disease and the importance of following a healthy heart diet plan.
How to Maintain Your Heart Health?
If you have heart disease or any other health issue that puts you at high risk for heart disease, you must practice healthy eating habits and regular physical activity. Maintaining a healthy weight also helps manage or prevent heart disease. Obesity is another major risk factor for heart disease. Carrying those extra pounds of weight adds extra stress on the heart and the blood vessels. In addition, you should also focus on getting optimal sleep and reducing stress.
Here Is the Best Diet Plan for a healthy Heart
There is no one exact diet plan for every patient. The diet plan is always individualised based on the patient’s overall profile and medical history. However, it is important to understand that the best foods for heart health promote good health and manage your weight.
Follow the below guidance from the heart specialist of the best cardiology hospital in Bangalore you can consider to make your heart healthy:
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Eat more vegetables and fruits. They are rich sources of vitamins and minerals and low in calories. They are also rich in dietary fibre. Vegetables can be a replacement for high-calorie food which people often binge on.
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Avoid refined flour. Instead, use whole grains as they contain more dietary fibres, are low in calories, and help in better digestion of food.
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Limit the intake of junk food. Junk foods are high in saturated fats and calories with low nutritional value. Their consumption should be limited, and if possible, avoid eating them.
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Reduce the intake of saturated fat. It can increase cholesterol levels. Instead, increase your intake of foods that are rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. These fats help in reducing cholesterol levels. However, any kind of fat should be consumed in moderation.
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Increase the intake of omega-3 fatty acids. These are present in flax seeds in high amounts. These fatty acids are known to prevent heart disease.
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Reduce your salt intake. Do not add more salt, apart from the amount used while cooking the food. Bakery products and pickles should be avoided as they contain high amounts of salt.
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Eat your food in small portions. It is important to control your food intake to maintain good heart health.
With an increase in the incidence of heart disease, the importance of following a healthy diet has become more prominent. People with healthy eating habits tend to live longer and are at lower risk for developing serious health problems than those eating unhealthy foods. Having said that, we suggest you meet a top interventional cardiologist in Bangalore who will assess your heart health and based upon that, create a diet plan that helps you maintain your cardiac health, avoid complications associated with your heart, and treat existing heart problems.
FAQs regarding how to maintain a Healthy Heart
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Are dietary supplements a must?
You don’t necessarily need any supplements if you eat a healthy and nutritious diet. Vitamin supplements are recommended only for certain people, such as pregnant women, older people, and those on low-calorie diets. Food is the finest source of vitamins and minerals. So, eat right and healthy.
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What is the difference between healthy fat and unhealthy fat?
Trans fats and saturated fats are unhealthy fats that can affect your heart and its arteries. It is the cause of various serious heart diseases. A healthy diet includes low levels of trans and saturated fat. It includes moderate amounts of unsaturated fat (mono or polyunsaturated fats), such as omega-3 fatty acids, that make your heart healthy. All fats add to calories when it comes to weight. However, when it comes to your heart, some fats are bad, and some are good.
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Why are saturated fats bad?
Saturated fats are bad because they increase bad cholesterol levels or LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol. A maximum of 7% of your calories should come from saturated fats. Cut down on cheese, butter, meat, and cream to reduce your bad cholesterol levels.
