Diet and exercise directly affect the level of your health. Maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle is always important to preserving health. For individuals with cardiovascular disease, however, a healthy lifestyle could protect them from suffering a serious cardiac event. Following a heart attack, you might have to modify your diet, learn new, healthy habits, and gain a better understanding of proper nutrition for cardiovascular health.
How to Eat During a Heart Attack Recovery
When it comes to eating healthy after a heart attack and always, it’s best to eat whole, unprocessed foods. Fill your diet with fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
- Eat whole, unprocessed grains such as steel cut oats, quinoa, and brown rice. Avoid processed grains like white flour, instant oatmeal, and minute rice.
- Aim for five servings of fresh (not canned) vegetables each day.
- Try to eat two servings of fresh fruits each day.
- Choose lean proteins like meat with fat trimmed and skinless fish. Avoid processed meats like sausage, salami, and deli cuts. Try to eat at least two servings of fish each week.
- Include legumes like lentils, beans, or split peas, in at least two meals per week.
- Snack on plain, unsalted nuts.
- You may eat up to six eggs each week.
- Avoid take-out and fast foods, as they are high in sodium.
- Limit your consumption of salty, sugary, fatty foods like pre-packaged snacks and other ready-to-eat processed foods.
- If you do purchase packaged foods, select varieties with no added salt and low sodium.
- Select reduced fat or alternative dairy options, such as nut milks.
- Cook using healthier fats, such as olive or avocado oil.
- Drink mostly water, avoiding sugary drinks and limited caffeine intake.
Exceptional Heart Health Care and Wellness Advice
Caring for your cardiovascular health is essential to living well, especially for individuals who have suffered a serious cardiovascular event, like a heart attack. If you are unsure about the best practices for healthy living after a heart attack, talk to your doctor at Abella Health. We are here for you and look forward to helping you manage your diet and lifestyle following a heart attack or cardiovascular disease diagnosis.