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Nutritional advice for patients with heart failure

December 28, 2019

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Nutritional advice for patients with heart failure

If you have heart failure, your doctor will prescribe medications to treat your condition,

and in some cases, you may also be suggested to have surgery or install medical devices that help the heartbeat in a proper way.

Your doctor will also advise you to change your nutritional lifestyle.

Eating healthy food helps reduce the severity of symptoms of heart failure and prevents them from getting worse,

in addition to that food rich in beneficial nutrients improves health in general.

There are different types of congestive heart failure including systolic and diastolic, but dietary recommendations are similar for both types.

Read on to find out more about eating options and diet patterns that may help you control heart failure.

Follow the DASH diet or the Mediterranean diet

The DASH diet is designed to lower blood pressure, as it is rich in vegan foods and healthy fats. The Mediterranean diet is also heart-healthy and is the common food form in many countries bordering the Mediterranean.

Following the Dash diet or the Mediterranean diet will help you achieve healthy eating goals,

as it allows you to choose foods that are low in sodium and stay away from foods that are subject to industrial or canned processing.

To learn more about these diets,

consult a doctor or dietitian,

as they are able to explain the advantages and possible disadvantages of various forms of diets.

Choose foods rich in nutrients

You don’t have to follow a special diet for healthy eating, as you can eat healthy and nutritious foods at every meal.

It is important to eat a varied diet rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber and essential nutrients to fulfill your nutritional needs,

in return you must limit the consumption of foods rich in energy and poor in nutrients.

The American Heart Association recommends eating more plant-based foods, such as:

fruits and vegetables
Beans and other legumes
Nuts and seeds
Whole grains
You can also get many essential nutrients from animal sources such as:

sea food
Skinless bird meat
Low-fat dairy products
Nutritional advice for heart failure patients – what foods should heart failure patients eat – foods that should be present in heart disease food

The American Heart Association also recommends reducing consumption of red meat, sweets, foods high in saturated and trans fat, as well as foods that contain high cholesterol, sodium (salt) or refined sugar.

Reduce sodium intake

Eating too much salt or sodium causes fluid retention in the body, which leads to increased pressure and pregnancy on the heart.

This affects the kidneys and heart in the long run and makes symptoms of heart failure worse.

Doctors encourage patients to follow a low-sodium diet (often less than mg2000 per day), and the diet depends on your health and the type of heart failure you have (systolic or diastolic type).

Sodium is found in many foods, including seafood, birds,

red meat, dairy products,

and plant products, but the largest source of sodium is salt, which is added to many household dishes and to most processed foods.

Here are some tips to reduce the amount of sodium in your food:

Try to limit the consumption of processed or canned foods such as canned soup, chilled foods, smoked meat, marinated pasta,

dazzling rice, salad dressing, other sauces, crackers, and other snacks.

When you buy canned or processed foods,

read the nutritional information affixed to them and choose the low sodium types.

Reduce the amount of salt added to your dishes at home,

and replace it with herbal spices, spices, lemon juice or any other low-sodium ingredients.

Your doctor may advise you to check with a dietitian to help you know how to reduce sodium or make other changes to your diet.

Drink fluids in sufficient quantities no more than your body needs

If you have heart failure,

your doctor will advise you to limit the amount of fluid you drink in a day. You need to drink fluids in sufficient quantities to stay quenched, but drinking too much may raise blood pressure and burden the heart if you have heart failure.

Ask your doctor how much fluids you should drink. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe pills in the form of pills to rid the body of excess fluid.

Reduce alcohol intake

Your doctor will also advise you to limit alcohol consumption to protect the heart and blood vessels, as drinking too much alcohol increases the risk of angina, strokes and many other health problems.

Ask your doctor about the possibility of drinking an average amount of alcohol and if it is safe for you.

Consult your doctor about calorie restriction intake

In some cases, your doctor will ask you to lose weight to reduce stress on the heart, and many people should reduce their food intake to lose weight.

Ask your doctor if reducing food intake is the best way for you to lose weight, and if you need help with this, your doctor may refer you to a dietitian. A dietician helps you choose nutritious, low-calorie foods that give you a feeling of satiety at the same time.

Conclusion

Eating healthy and nutritious foods and drinks is important for your physical and mental health. In the event that you suffer from heart failure, the doctor will urge you to limit the amount of salt, alcohol and fluids consumed per day, and it will help you to change your food pattern or refer you to a dietitian.