How Sodium in the Diet Affects Chronic Heart Disease:
Not monitoring the amount of sodium you eat each day can send your blood pressure through the roof. Did you know that you're not always able to know when your blood pressure is up? It's not called the silent killer for no reason. In addition to sticking to your blood pressure medication schedule, you need to monitor the amount of sodium in your food.
Foods to Avoid
The worst foods for sodium content are processed foods. You should stick to foods with only one ingredient or those that are not already prepared. Frozen meals, canned goods and lunch meats tend to be very high in salt. Read the food label before you make a purchase. You can quickly determine if the sodium content is too high. If one serving contains more than 10% of the daily limit for sodium, it's way too salty. Keep in mind, that's the guideline for people without chronic heart disease. You'll need to all but eliminate it from your diet.
Foods to Flock To
Fill up your grocery cart with as many foods without packaging as possible. This means that you should spend a considerable amount of time in the produce section. Avoid smoked and cured meats altogether. Learn to season without salt by flavoring with things like lemon and fresh or dried herbs.
For Heart Failure Patients
Failing to keep your sodium levels high can spell very serious trouble for people with heart failure. Since one of the complications of this chronic heart condition is fluid retention and swelling, eating high sodium foods can cause life threatening symptoms. Heart failure patients should weigh themselves each day and keep a written log of these daily measurements. This can be the first clue for you and your doctor that your condition needs immediate attention.
How a Fatty Diet Affects Chronic Heart Disease:
Fat is an important part of a balanced, healthy diet. Our bodies need fat to maintain nervous system tissue, help us feel satisfied when we eat and to keep our hearts healthy. Yes, eating the right fats will keep your heart healthy by lowering LDL (bad cholesterol) and raising HDL (good cholesterol).
Bad Fats
Conversely, eating bad fats will contribute to high cholesterol which causes an increased risk of stroke and heart attack. Since fatty foods are so calorie-dense, high-fat diets also contribute to obesity which complicates blood pressure, blood sugar, joint health, heart function, immune function and much more.
How Much Fat to Eat
No more than 30% of your daily calories should come from fat. No more than 10% of your fat calories should come from saturated fats. Those fats come from animal products like dairy and meat. For those with known heart disease, it's best to avoid saturated fat and cholesterol altogether.
Eat These Foods
It is possible to eat a flavorful and satisfying diet with healthy fats. Stock your kitchen with the following foods that contain heart-healthy fats:
-tuna, mackerel and salmon with Omega-3 fatty acids
-soy bean, olive and canola oil
-ground flaxseeds and flaxseed oil
-nuts
-avacado
-sunflower seeds
How Carbohydrates Affect Chronic Heart Disease:
Anyone with chronic heart disease should make it a point to become highly skilled at knowing the difference between good and bad carbs. Good carbs can help control blood sugar, appetite and weight. Bad carbs can make cravings worse, hurt blood sugar control and contribute to weight gain.
How Many Carbs You Should Eat
About 50% of all daily calories should come from carbohydrates. Half of all carbohydrate calories should come from good carbs in whole grains and whole wheat products. These foods take longer to convert to sugar in the blood, stave off hunger and help you feel full due to their high-fiber content. Some examples are whole wheat pasta, whole wheat bread, brown rice, oats and bran flakes.
What Are Bad Carbs?
Bad carbs come from refined and processed sugars like the ones in white rice, white sugar, soda, juice, candy, dressings and some condiments. They cause the blood sugar to spike quickly and crash soon after, leaving you hungry sooner. They also make cravings for junk food much worse creating an addition to foods that aren't good for you. They tend to be high in sugar and low in nutrients.
Do You Have Cravings? Are You Overweight?
If you're having trouble controlling your weight and/or cravings, take stock of your pantry today. Is the first ingredient in your bread "whole wheat flour"? Is your oatmeal the instant, flavored kind with loads of sugar? How many times a day do you drink beverages with sugar? Even 100% juices are very high in refined sugars. If your kitchen is full of offenders, clean it out ASAP.
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