3 Day Cardiac Diet: Losing Weight Before Heart Surgery

The 3 day cardiac diet is a diet program that supposedly was developed by the Birmingham Hospital in Alabama. According to some sources, this diet is designed for patients who need to lose approximately 10 pounds before their heart surgery. In a nutshell, the 3 day cardiac diet consists of menu plans that cover breakfast, lunch and dinner for a period of three days.

This diet plan will give the body a total of 1,000 calories. The foods included have low carbohydrates and the source of protein is from the tuna consumed on the first two days of the diet. The diet program provides a variety and heart healthy foods through different vegetables, fruits, bread and crackers. Coffee and tea are also permitted but drinking plenty of water, about 8 glasses per day, is highly recommended for optimal weight loss results and for aiding the digestive process.

The first day of the three day cardiac diet starts with a slice of toast topped with half a teaspoon of peanut butter, ½ of grapefruit and coffee or tea. The menu for lunch includes half a cup of tuna, a slice of toast and a cup of coffee or tea. For dinner, 3 ounces of meat is allowed together with a cup of beans, 1 cup of carrots, an apple and a cup of vanilla ice cream for dessert. The next two days is pretty much the same, save for some changes in the variety of foods.

The following is the overview of the three day cardiac diet. The diet must be followed strictly and substituting is not allowed. Small amounts of salt and pepper may be added. Other than that, do not add anything else. For safety precautions, always consult your physician before starting a new diet program.

Day 1

Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner
½ Grapefruit or juice	½ cup tuna	2 slices of any meat (3 ounces)
1 slice toast	1 slice toast	1 cup string beans
1 tbsp peanut butter	Black coffee or tea	1 cup carrots or beets
Black coffee or tea		1 small apple
		1 cup vanilla ice cream

Day 2

Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner
1 piece of hard-boiled egg	1 cup cottage cheese or ½ cup of tuna	2 wieners
1 slice toast	1 slice toast	1 cup cabbage or broccoli
½ banana	5 Saltine crackers	½ cup carrots or turnip greens
Black coffee or tea	Black coffee or tea	½ banana
		1 cup vanilla ice cream

Day 3

Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner
1 piece of hard-boiled egg	1 slice cheddar cheese	1 cup tuna
1 slice toast	5 saltine crackers	1 cup carrots or beets
Black coffee or tea	1 small apple	1 cup green beans or cauliflower
	Black coffee or tea	1 cup cantaloupe or 1 small apple
		1 cup vanilla ice cream

Suggested reading:

Sample heart healthy diet plan for breakfast and lunch.