The expression "you are what you eat" takes on a special meaning when you have heart failure. What you eat can have a direct affect on the workload of your heart. By following recommended guidelines and your doctor's advice, you can make sure what you eat has a positive, rather than negative, impact on your health.
This may mean changes in what you're used to. But the good news is that the general public is becoming more aware of the importance of heart-healthy eating, and there's a great variety of low-fat, low-sodium (salt) foods available to help you stay on track.
Watch what you drink
People with heart failure often retain fluid, which can require the heart to work harder. When this happens your doctor may recommend limiting your intake of fluids. (Some also prescribe diuretics or "water pills" to get rid of extra water.)
Talk to your doctor about how much liquid you should have day. That includes not only water, but also juice, ice cubes, coffee, tea, and soup. Some foods with high water content, such as ice cream, yogurt, and fruit, may also count toward your daily total.
If your doctor recommends limiting fluid intake, one easy way to keep track is to measure the cups, glasses, and bowls you typically use at home. Fill them with water from a measuring cup and you'll know whether that teacup really holds a "cup".
Pass on the salt
Sodium (most commonly salt) can make your body retain fluid, which in turn makes your heart pump harder. This can strain your heart and can also make other heart failure symptoms worse.
Medical Association recommends heart failure patients restrict sodium intake. For some, this is a big change, but it's an important one. Fortunately many low-sodium versions of popular foods are available, and there are healthy alternative to add zing to meals.
Tips for limiting sodium
- Take the salt shaker off the table
- Don't add salt when you cook
- Ask your doctor about salt substitutes (not all are right for heart failure patients)
- Look for low-sodium versions of foods you like
- Use fresh fruit and vegetables and other low sodium foods instead of processed foods
- Eat brown or plain white rice instead of flavored rice
- As you restock your shelves, replace high-sodium soups, cereals, butter and other items with low-sodium versions
- Check your medicine cabinet for headache and heartburn medicines that contain sodium carbonate or bicarbonate
- Become a label reader and know how much sodium is really in the foods you buy
- Avoid prepared mixes, ham, bacon, sausage, salted nuts and snacks, salad dressing, salty seasonings, and fast food
Fats and cholesterol
It's not news that people with heart failure need to limit intake of saturated fat and cholesterol. Too much saturated fat and cholesterol raises the amount of cholesterol in your blood. This is a major risk factor for developing other types of heart disease that can contribute to heart failure.
How much is too much?
The medical association recommends a low cholesterol diet for people with cardiovascular disease. Total fat intake depends on your caloric needs, and saturated fat should only be between 8-10% of that total.
Different types of fat
Saturated fats - solid at room temperature. Found in animal foods including beef, pork, poultry fat, and whole-milk dairy products, plus coconut and palm oils. Can raise cholesterol and increase risk of coronary artery disease and heart attack.
Polyunsaturated fats - liquid at room temperature. Include safflower, sunflower, corn and soybean oil. In moderate amounts may help reduce cholesterol.
Monosaturated fats - liquid at room temperature. Include canola and olive oils. In moderate amounts may help reduce cholesterol.
Tips for reducing fat and cholesterol
- Substitute nonfat and low-fat dairy products like milk, ice cream, and cheese
- Remove fat-containing skin from chicken and turkey
- Trim excess fat off red meat
- Cook with polyunsaturated oils like sunflower and corn oil
- Cook with egg yolks only or egg substitute
- Instead of butter, substitute low fat spreads, sprays and shake-on alternatives
Last Updated on: 20.01.2005
