Diet for heart disease. General recommendations on nutrition for cardiovascular diseases. Features of nutrition for diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

A proper diet for heart disease will help improve the health of the core, and it will also help prevent the development of many problems with the heart and blood vessels.

Even the ancients argued that we are what we eat. A well-balanced diet can do wonders for heart disease or its prevention.

First, proper nutrition will help get rid of bad cholesterol, which clogs the walls of blood vessels. High levels of such cholesterol can lead to the formation of blood clots in blood vessels. In combination with a healthy and active lifestyle, a diet for heart disease will help blood vessels stay healthy and elastic. This means that they will contract and expand easily. This means that a person will not have problems with high and low blood pressure.

There are several rules to a healthy heart diet. The first is to limit the consumption of junk food. Now there are many products that contain “empty” calories. These foods quickly satisfy your hunger, but do not provide the body with vitamins, antioxidants, minerals or other beneficial nutrients. These products negatively affect the cardiovascular system. They should not be consumed if you want to maintain a healthy heart, and they are contraindicated for those who already have heart disease.

The second rule is to eat different foods. There are five main food groups that are essential for heart and overall health. These are cereals, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, meat and fish. It is very important that every day your body receives nutrition from at least one “representative” of each of these food groups. Then the heart will be healthy and life will be pleasant.

What is the diet for heart disease?

Many people have a question: what diet for heart disease will help maintain health? There are several types of foods that need to be excluded from the diet or their consumption reduced. And there are many foods that are advisable to include in a heart-healthy diet. First, it is important to reduce your salt intake. Everyone knows that salt retains water in the body.

In general, salt is good for health and you shouldn’t completely exclude it from your diet. But it won't hurt to reduce your consumption. Water causes swelling and puts increased stress on the heart. And this must be avoided. It is important to understand that salt is found not only in the food you cook and salt, but also in many prepared foods that you buy in the store. And some vegetables or foods are rich in salt. For example, celery has a high salt content. This vegetable is good for health, but if you put it in soup or salad, then you should undersalt this dish a little.

A lot of salt is put into chips and other, to put it mildly, unhealthy foods. A lot of salt is also put into sausages, frankfurters and other semi-finished products. Therefore, such products are unlikely to be suitable for dietary nutrition. In addition to salt, you need to reduce your intake of fatty foods. It is better to replace half of the animal fats with vegetable fats. At the same time, it is better to buy unrefined vegetable oil. The less processed the products, the healthier they are for the body.

Polyunsaturated acids, such as omega-3, are beneficial for heart health. They can be found in both plant and animal foods. For example, there are many of them in cereals and in particular in oatmeal. Therefore, breakfast should be nutritious and healthy, which means it’s better to start the day with porridge. It will go well with fruit. Sweet fruits and honey can replace sugar in your diet. Porridges are rich not only in acids, but also in fiber.

Fiber cleanses the intestines and helps it better absorb nutrients from food. This will give your heart more nutrition. You can also add nuts to the porridge to increase its nutritional value and give the heart all the necessary microelements. One of the key microelements that will help restore heart function is magnesium.

It helps avoid arrhythmia, lowers blood pressure and is very useful for hypertensive patients. Magnesium can be found in buckwheat, milk and dairy products, spinach or parsley, as well as beans and other legumes. All these products are good not only for the heart, but also for the human body in general.

Diet recipes for heart disease

Many people associate a diet for heart patients with something bland and tasteless. But this is not true, because many diet recipes for heart disease can be very appetizing. There is no need to deny yourself delicious food, you just need to learn how to cook healthy and tasty.

We all love to nibble or snack on something on the go. Therefore, the food industry is “not sleeping” and has filled the shelves with various ready-made snacks or snacks. The only trouble is that most of these snacks are unhealthy and simply unacceptable in the diet of heart patients. Here are some healthy snack recipes. Firstly, flakes or balls made from natural and whole grains are perfect for cores. This could also include low-salt, whole-grain crispbread.

They can be eaten as a separate dish, or can be used in preparing snacks. For example, cereal or bread (crumbed) can be mixed with nuts and seeds. Add a dressing of lime, pomegranate or orange juice to create a wonderful crunchy snack that is very healthy for the heart.

You can also snack on dried fruits. If you don't like to eat them whole or separately, you can make healthy candies for hearts. These sweets are suitable for the whole family and can successfully replace store-bought sweets not only for heart patients, but also for children. To prepare them you need to take raisins, prunes, dates, dried apricots and figs. All these dried fruits are very good for the heart. They need to be crushed by cutting them by hand or with a blender. You can add nuts, such as walnuts or hazelnuts. Mix everything together and add honey or natural black molasses.

You can roll the resulting mixture into balls or give them the shape of hearts. Candies can be rolled in nut crumbs or cocoa powder. And now the healthy and even medicinal sweets are ready. In addition to appetizers and desserts, you can make healthy soups. For example, bean soup. It is better to take dried beans rather than canned ones. Beans are rich in magnesium and potassium and are very good for the heart. You should not cook strong meat broth for this soup. Beans, like all legumes, are very rich in iron. Therefore, it is quite possible to make lean soup from it.

Beans go well with tomatoes. It is better to put fresh tomatoes, homemade tomato paste or tomato juice. But you shouldn’t add hot pepper or chili, because it can cause arrhythmia and put additional stress on the heart. It's best to soak the beans overnight to help them cook faster. You can add broccoli to this soup. This cabbage is rich in vitamin P and is very good for the heart. You can add onions and carrots, but do not fry them in oil. It’s better to just cut it into cubes and throw it straight into the soup. In general, frying is harmful to heart health.

If you boil the beans thoroughly, then in addition to vegetables (tomato, potatoes, onions, carrots and celery), you don’t need to add cereal to it. The finished soup can be generously sprinkled with finely chopped parsley, which is also very good for the heart. The soup can be served with homemade rye bread croutons. As you can see, diet recipes for heart disease can be very tasty and healthy.

Diet menu for heart disease

How to correctly create a diet menu for heart disease? There are several key factors to consider here. First, you need to control how much liquid you drink during the day. This should include not only water, but also compotes, teas, juices or soup. Excessive fluid intake increases stress on the heart.

Secondly, you need to reduce the amount of salt you consume. It is best to exclude semi-finished products from your diet, because they contain a lot of salt. As well as chips and other snacks. Salt prevents fluid from leaving the body in a timely manner and causes swelling.

The menu should include soups, but it is better if they are lean soups. They can be made from beans, peas or other legumes. Or cook in the second broth and drain the first water from the meat. This way you will reduce the amount of animal fats in your diet.

It is important to eat fish at least several times a week. It is better to choose sea fish, and red fish (salmon, salmon) is best for heart health. Vegetables, eggs, meat and fish should not be fried. It is best to boil them or bake them in the oven. This way, harmful substances are not released in the products and vitamins and other beneficial nutrients are preserved to the maximum.

As you can see, nutrition for heart disease should be varied and generally beneficial for the health of the whole body. And also, it should be aimed at not gaining excess weight.

What can you eat if you have heart disease?

If you have a cardiovascular disease, it is very important to adhere to proper nutrition. It is important to avoid additional stress on the heart. This means that it is important to be in shape and not gain excess weight, because obesity greatly affects the functioning of the heart and blood vessels. So, what can you eat if you have heart disease? There are so many foods that are good for your heart and body in general.

It is important not only to choose the right products, but also to prepare them correctly, as well as dose them correctly. For example, flour products are not very healthy; they can cause you to gain extra pounds, which is harmful if you have a heart condition. But if you choose the right products and dose them correctly, you can not deprive yourself of pleasure.

For example, it is better to buy bread that is baked from whole grains. This can be seeded bread, rye bread (it is healthier than wheat), bread made from coarse flour, as well as bread with seeds and nuts. These foods are rich in magnesium, various vitamins and fiber. The high fiber content is good for your heart and for maintaining a healthy weight. Fiber quickly fills the stomach and prevents overeating. But it is not absorbed by the body. It cleanses the gastrointestinal tract and keeps it healthy. In our body, all organs are connected. Therefore, a healthy stomach is a healthy heart.

Eating fish is also beneficial for cardiovascular diseases. It is better to choose sea fish. It is rich in iodine and other trace elements. One of the best fish for heart-throbs is salmon. This red fish is rich in unsaturated acids. The animal fat of this fish does not contribute to the accumulation of harmful cholesterol in the blood vessels. By including this fish in your diet, you will help your body stabilize its blood pressure.

Various plant seeds are also very beneficial for the heart. For example, flax seed or sesame. These seeds can be added to salads or bread. They can be added to the dressing for roasting meat. Natural red wine is also good for the heart. But its use should be limited and taken in therapeutic small doses.

What should you not eat if you have heart disease?

But there are also foods that are strictly prohibited for heart patients. First of all, there is a whole category of foods that heart patients should not eat. These are products that have undergone processing, refining, and so on. These can be refined fats, both vegetable and animal. Animal fats that have been rendered are called trans fats. They contribute to the formation of harmful cholesterol in blood vessels.

Often, these are the fats that are added to various snacks, such as chips, ready-made crackers, and fast food. Therefore, semi-finished products and ready-made snacks should be excluded from the diet. Fried food is also harmful. It is better to bake or boil both vegetables and meat and fish rather than fry them. And dishes made from premium flour are also harmful.

This flour has gone through many levels of processing and purification. Essentially, all the beneficial substances were removed from it and only “naked” carbohydrates were left. They promote rapid weight gain, which should be avoided if you have heart disease. Therefore, it is better not to eat cakes, cookies and bread made from white flour. And replace them with flour products made from wholemeal flour.

Carbonated drinks are also harmful to heart disease. They contain a lot of chemical additives. In addition, these drinks cause swelling and put extra strain on the heart and kidneys. Their consumption, as well as the consumption of salt, should be limited.

Diseases of the heart and blood vessels have become so widespread that all adults need to know their nutritional habits. The diet can be used not only for therapeutic purposes, but also for preventive purposes.

Heart disease occurs due to a certain type of pathology. What matters is the work of the centers of the brain, adaptation to external stimuli, the level of biochemical processes in the body, which provides the necessary supply of energy for the functioning of the heart. What is important for blood vessels is wall tone, good elasticity, coordinated contraction and relaxation, integrity and the impossibility of leakage of the liquid part of the blood.

Nutrition for cardiovascular diseases has great advantages over medications. It provides the body with everything it needs naturally.

When is a special diet needed?

Even a healthy person is obliged to monitor his diet. Overeating, long breaks in food, loads of spicy or salty foods change the internal balance, lead to disruption of the digestive process, and, at a minimum, are accompanied by discomfort.

With vascular and heart diseases, the entire body suffers because blood circulation is impaired. Atherosclerosis begins to develop early and is detected as early as 40 years of age. The further course is accompanied by hypertension, damage to the coronary and cerebral vessels, and renal arteries.

Myocarditis often complicates acute infectious diseases in children and adults. The course of rheumatism is difficult to predict. The onset of heart defect formation is not immediately apparent.

The diet cannot completely cure the patient, but it must compensate the body for its recovery. It should be used already in the initial (latent) stages of the disease with minimal symptoms.

Cauliflower has beneficial properties, and white cabbage causes flatulence.

Purpose of the diet

provide the body with the missing energy;
prevent the spread of atherosclerosis;
improve the tone of the vascular bed;
normalize impaired protein and lipid metabolism;
organize the delivery of electrolytes to maintain the correct heart rhythm and the strength of heart contractions.

Table No. 10 is used for the following conditions:

congenital and acquired defects;
hypertension;
myocardial infarction and chronic ischemic disease;
cardiosclerosis;
arrhythmia;
signs of heart failure.

There are changes and additions for each disease, but the general requirements must be followed at all times.

General characteristics and rules of table No. 10

Appropriate diets include permitted and exclude unauthorized foods, regulate food preparation methods, and the established frequency of meals.

Unlike other tables, restrictions apply to liquids, salty and spicy foods, irritants of the nervous system and renal blood flow.

The mode should provide:

five meals a day in small portions;
prohibition of long breaks and overeating, late dinner;
evening meals should be completed 3 hours before bedtime.

When cooking and culinary processing, frying and smoking should be avoided. Only the cooking method is used; stewing over low heat and steaming are possible.

Using a simple steamer on the farm will solve food problems

Daily diet products should contain:

protein – 90 g, of which 50 g is of animal origin;
fats – 80 g, including 25 g of vegetable origin;
carbohydrates – 400 g;
provide calorie content of 2500–2700 Kcal;
a complete set of vitamins;
salt – no more than 5 g, provided that dishes are prepared without salt;
liquid – up to 1.5 l.

What can you eat?

Dishes at table No. 10 are prepared from permitted products. These include:

The first courses are vegetable soups with cereals, dairy soups, pure vegetable soups (for example, beetroot soup), non-rich broths from fish and meat, for a single dose the volume is half a portion; in case of severe swelling, soups are excluded.
Lean meats (beef, veal), poultry (chicken, turkey) are cooked boiled, chopped (cutlets, meatballs, meatballs), baking is allowed.
Low-fat boiled fish in the form of cutlets.
Animal fat is provided by butter - 20 g, vegetable oil - 30 g per day.
Chicken eggs - up to four per week, soft-boiled or as a steam omelet.
Buckwheat porridge, boiled oatmeal and casseroles, semolina porridge for weight loss.
Pasta in a casserole, a side dish for meat.
Dairy products allowed are low-fat kefir, fermented baked milk, low-fat cottage cheese, sour cream only for seasoning soups, and unsalted hard cheese.
Vegetables - beets, cauliflower, tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, pumpkin, greens, salads, vinaigrette are shown.
Prepare sauces and gravies only with vegetable broth and milk.
Fresh fruits and berries, compotes, squeezed juice, dried fruits.
Bakery products - day-old baked goods, dried slices, mainly made from rye flour or rye-wheat, with bran, flax or sunflower seeds, dry cookies, crackers - up to 150 g per day.
For drinking, you can brew weak green or black tea, chicory, prepare rosehip decoction, herbal teas with lemon balm and mint, drink mineral water only after releasing gas bubbles.

What is restricted or prohibited?

Diet restrictions are associated with the undesirable effects of certain foods:

dishes made from beans, spinach, lentils, peas, mushrooms, radishes, cabbage, radishes, sorrel cause the diaphragm to rise due to intestinal bloating;
sweets, grape juice, candies, and jam contribute to weight gain, so it is recommended to replace them with honey.

Harmful foods for heart and vascular diseases are completely prohibited. These include:

buns, bread, pastries;
all fried, smoked, salted and spicy foods and dishes;
fatty rich broths, soups with additions of beans, peas, mushrooms;
fatty meat (including duck and goose), fish, kidneys;
soft and processed cheeses, sour cream, full-fat milk, cottage cheese, high-fat kefir, ice cream, mayonnaise;
pickled and pickled vegetables, legumes, cabbage, radish;
sweets, chocolate and candies;
strong tea, coffee, sweet carbonated water, alcohol.

Seafood goes well with herbs and lemon, which further increases their value

What options are there for table No. 10?

Nutritionists make small changes to the diet of table No. 10 depending on the specific pathology of the patient. In this case, it is necessary to comply with all rules and nutritional requirements.

Diet 10a:

Prescribed for heart failure, starting from the second stage. It promotes the removal of fluid, relieves blood circulation, and helps the heart function.
Calorie content is reduced to 2000 kcal, the total volume of liquid is reduced to 600 ml.
First courses and bread products are prohibited, the amount of fat and protein is reduced, and the proportion of foods containing potassium, calcium and magnesium is increased.
Six-fold power mode.

Diet 10b:

used to treat patients with rheumatism with low inflammatory process activity;
the proportion of animal proteins and fats has been increased;
up to 1.5 liters of liquid is allowed;
vegetables and fruits are included fresh in salads, juices;
caloric content of the diet - 2600 Kcal;
six meals a day.

Diet 10c:
The main indication is atherosclerotic damage to the vessels of the heart, brain, aorta, cardiosclerosis, hypertension.

Peculiarities:

Significant limitation of animal fat and easily digestible carbohydrates with a normal amount of protein.
Inclusion in the diet of foods with polyunsaturated fatty acids and lipotropic substances.
The diet includes at least 0.4 kg of vegetables and fruits per day; snacking on fruits and salads is allowed between meals.
Seafood dishes (squid, shrimp, sea fish, cabbage) are a must.
The amount of liquid is no more than 1 liter.

For people with normal weight, caloric intake is calculated up to 2500 kcal, for overweight people - 2000 with fasting days.

Diet 10g:

indicated for arterial hypertension;
characterized by a significant reduction in salt (2 g per day), the use of seafood, vitamins, potassium and magnesium;
daily calorie content – up to 2700 Kcal.

It is more convenient to drink in bed from special sippy cups or using cocktail straws

Diet 10i:

prescribed to patients with acute myocardial infarction;
products that stimulate intestinal motility and myocardial healing are included;
everything that causes abdominal flatulence is excluded;
dishes are prepared semi-liquid, without salt;
low calorie content;
for the first 2 days, the patient drinks half a glass of green tea, fruit decoction, and warm rosehip infusion 7 times a day;
from the third day, liquid dishes are added - half a portion of soup, porridge, pureed meat. At the same time, calorie content is no more than 1200 Kcal.

After 2 weeks, the diet expands, calorie content increases to 1600, liquid - up to 1 liter, food can be given unprocessed. Then the patient is transferred to table 10c with the obligatory consumption of fish and seafood.

The above list of diets for cardiovascular diseases shows the possibility of sufficiently high-quality nutrition even under restrictions. The total calorie content, the amount of salt and water may change as the patient recovers and regains physical activity. Their use can be discussed with your doctor.

However, the principles of cooking, the attitude towards the volume of liquid, fatty foods remain unchanged throughout life. You should accustom yourself to such a diet from the age of 40. It is much more convenient to use it for preventive purposes, rather than for advanced forms of the disease.

Diseases of the cardiovascular system occupy a leading position among all diseases and cause mortality and lead to disability. To support the functioning of the heart muscle, a sufficient amount must be supplied to the body. It is important to adhere to a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Therapeutic nutrition for heart patients involves the use of products with sufficient amounts of essential microelements and vitamins:

B vitamins are necessary for the normal functioning of the heart muscle. They are found in green beans, dark green vegetables, peas, soybeans, fruits, fish, etc. To normalize blood supply to the heart and avoid blockage of blood vessels, you should consume foods containing vitamin B in sufficient quantities.
Carrots, parsley, green onions, apricots and rose hips contain the necessary amount of vitamin A. It not only strengthens the heart, but also has an antioxidant effect, preventing the development of heart disease.
A diet for people suffering from heart disease must include dairy products and seafood. In addition, you should eat low-fat varieties of cheese, liver, fish, etc. You can use various types of low-fat varieties in boiled or baked fish.
The diet should include foods that contain vitamin E. Such products are: wheat germ oil, vegetable and corn oil, green beans, wheat germ, rye, oats, mango, etc. Vitamin E helps reduce blood cholesterol levels, and also helps prevent the development of possible complications and improve heart function.
Polyunsaturated fats are very healthy: nuts, avocados, fish, etc. Properly cooked meat and fish, buckwheat, rice, oats, etc. are beneficial.
Only chicken eggs can be consumed. Goose and duck should be excluded.
You should definitely cook poultry and meat dishes. It is allowed to add lean pork, lamb, rabbit, turkey, and chicken to the diet. It is not advisable to eat duck and goose. You should also exclude the consumption of internal organs of animals: liver, kidneys, heart, etc.
Their bakeries are allowed to use rye or wheat bread, dry biscuits, and crispbreads.

“Harmful” products for hearts

Most people don't even think about the fact that their diet contains foods that negatively affect the functioning of the heart.

Common foods that are harmful to the cardiovascular system:

Sweets are a source of cholesterol. With large consumption of them in food, body weight increases, against the background of this, the blood supply to organs deteriorates.
Salt is found in large quantities in pickles, marinades, and sauces. It increases blood pressure.
Saturated fats increase cholesterol levels. As a result, it is deposited on the wall, which reduces the lumen of blood vessels. Blood circulation worsens due to a decrease in blood lumen. It is prohibited to eat fatty meat, smoked sausages, offal, etc.
Trans fats are no less dangerous: crackers, fast food, cakes, donuts, deep-fried foods, etc.
Fructose is dangerous for the heart. Increased levels in the blood increase the risk of developing heart pathologies.

Alcoholic drinks interfere with the normal absorption of essential vitamins and minerals for the heart. Their lack affects the work of this body. Strong coffee and tea, infusions should be excluded from drinks.

Rules and diet

People with cardiovascular diseases should avoid harmful foods. To reduce the load on the heart and reduce cholesterol levels in the blood, it is necessary to adhere to a proper and balanced diet.

People with heart disease should stick to table No. 10. This treatment table is designed specifically for this category of people. Calorie content should not exceed 2000 kcal. The amount of nutrients consumed per day should be: protein 80-90 g, carbohydrates – 300-400 g, fats – 90 g.

The diet requires adherence to daily caloric intake. You should eat food in fractional portions and at regular intervals.Breakfast at about 7-8 o'clock, second breakfast at 10-11 o'clock, lunch at 13 o'clock, afternoon tea at 16 o'clock and dinner at 18-19 o'clock. It is recommended to have a snack an hour before bed.

For heart patients, it is important not only to organize proper nutrition, but also to change their entire lifestyle.

You should eat at least 5 times a day. It is recommended to steam, boil, bake, and stew dishes. Salads should be seasoned not with mayonnaise, but with olive oil or lemon juice. You can prepare soups: cabbage soup, borscht, okroshka, beetroot soup, dairy soup, vegetarian soup, vegetable soup. First courses should be prepared 1-2 times a week in weak meat broth.

It is necessary to monitor the amount of fluid you drink daily. This can be not only drinking water, but also tea, compote, juice. Excessive fluid intake increases the load on the heart. You should drink about 1 liter of liquid per day, with the exception of summer, when the need for liquid increases.

The main part of the diet is vegetable dishes and soups. The principle of nutrition is to minimize foods that are harmful to the heart. Treatment table No. 10 has its own modifications: No. 10a, No. 10b, No. 10i, No. 10c. The decision on choosing a diet course is determined by a nutritionist.

Below is an approximate weekly menu for people with heart pathologies:

Monday:

Breakfast. Buckwheat porridge cooked with milk; green tea
Lunch. Baked apple
Dinner. Cabbage soup, baked meat with vegetables, jelly
Afternoon snack. Yogurt
Dinner. Corn porridge, vegetable drizzle, fish cutlet, tea

Tuesday:

Breakfast. Semolina porridge, cocoa
Lunch. Soft-boiled egg.
Dinner. Cabbage soup, mashed potatoes, boiled beef steak, vinaigrette, compote
Afternoon snack. Curd and banana casserole
Dinner. Zucchini stewed in sour cream, one meatball, cucumber and fresh cabbage salad

Wednesday:

Breakfast. Oatmeal with milk, chicory drink
Lunch. Steamed omelette
Dinner. Noodle soup, rice with corn and peas, compote
Afternoon snack. Banana
Dinner. Baked fish with vegetables, tea

Thursday:

Breakfast. Rice porridge, soft-boiled egg, tea
Lunch. Any fruit
Dinner. Beetroot soup, turkey breast with potatoes
Afternoon snack. Curd pudding with raisins
Dinner. Zucchini casserole with chicken, tea

Friday:

Breakfast. Pumpkin porridge, herbal tea
Lunch. Grated carrots with sugar
Dinner. Barley soup, potato pancakes with meatballs, fruit drink
Afternoon snack. Rose hip decoction, 3 pcs. dry biscuits
Dinner. Mashed potatoes with steamed fish cutlet, dried fruit compote

Useful video - Diet for hypertension:

Saturday:

Breakfast. Baked omelette, fruit juice
Lunch. Banana
Dinner. Baked jacket potatoes with chicken breast and vegetables, beet salad, fruit drink
Afternoon snack. Banana milkshake
Dinner. Pilaf without meat, beet salad, tea

Sunday:

Breakfast. Barley porridge with vegetable gravy, rosehip infusion
Lunch. Kissel
Dinner. Potato and carrot soup, stewed cabbage with meat and vegetables, compote
Afternoon snack. Fruit salad
Dinner. Noodle casserole, fresh cabbage salad, tea

The menu is selected taking into account the patient’s condition, the course of the disease and concomitant diseases.

Benefit of diet

Dietary table No. 10 is prescribed for the treatment of heart disease, coronary disease, etc. The purpose of such nutrition is to provide adequate nutrition for patients and create optimal conditions for improving and normalizing blood circulation.

Dietary nutrition satisfies a person's needs for essential nutrients, even when limiting salt and liquid. The diet is dominated by foods with a high content of minerals, vitamins, and plant fiber.

Medical nutrition is an integral component of complex therapy and rehabilitation of patients suffering from heart disease.

An antiatherogenic diet for heart disease maintains hemodynamic stability, restores lipid metabolism and water-electrolyte balance. In addition, the activity of lipid peroxidation decreases and antioxidant protection increases.

Healthy and sick people strive to include everything “delicious” in their daily diet: caviar, salted fish, marinades, smoked and fatty meat delicacies, rich broths, vinegar-based seasonings, sweet dairy products, cakes, sweets, juices identical to natural ones. Our body is ready to process everything to obtain vital energy. But at what cost?

A direct relationship between nutrition and human diseases has been scientifically proven. Nutritionists have developed recommendations for the treatment of diseases and developed methods of therapeutic fasting. There are 15 dietary tables as a basis for creating individual diets.

Cardiovascular diseases occupy the first place in the world in terms of mortality. Most deaths occur outside the hospital. Doctors have little ability to provide effective and safe care. Arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease and their complications, myocardial infarction, strokes must be treated comprehensively and continuously. Proper nutrition for cardiovascular diseases enhances the effect of medications, increases their effectiveness, and increases the life expectancy of patients. In addition, a healthy diet helps prevent cardiovascular diseases in the presence of risk factors and hereditary predisposition.

Risk factors for developing cardiovascular diseases

Age. People over 40 years of age become ill more often.
Floor. Men get sick more often than women.
Heredity.
Smoking.
High blood pressure.
High levels of cholesterol and other indicators of fat metabolism.
Frequent emotional stress, extreme living conditions.
Characteristics of a person. Aggressive, intolerant people, as well as those who take everything “to heart,” suffer from these diseases more often.
Sedentary lifestyle.
Excessive alcohol consumption.

Prevalence of hypertension

Arterial hypertension is a disease the main symptom of which is high blood pressure, not associated with disease of the internal organs. Arterial hypertension affects 20-30% of the adult population. With age, their number increases and reaches 50-60% among people over 65 years of age. A prolonged increase in blood pressure contributes to damage to the heart, brain, kidneys and blood vessels.

Malnutrition and hypertension

Job of cardio-vascular system closely related to nutritional processes. Eating large amounts of food fills the stomach, which can dislocate the diaphragm and make it difficult for the heart to function. Overload is also created by drinking too much liquid. If there is a lot of salt in food, then water is retained in the body tissues, which contributes to increased blood pressure and the appearance of edema. Treatment and prevention of exacerbations of arterial hypertension are carried out under the supervision of the attending physician after a mandatory examination. Drug therapy, therapeutic exercises and nutritional correction with diet No. 10 are prescribed individually.

Diet principles

Following a diet must be a conscious choice of the patient; the doctor cannot force him to follow the necessary recommendations!

How to eat properly with arterial hypertension? The purpose of diet No. 10 is to provide favorable conditions for the functioning of the circulatory system, prevent high blood pressure, and reduce the load on the digestive organs and kidneys.

Table salt must be limited; over-salting food is unacceptable. It is recommended to cook food without salt and only add a little salt to already cooked dishes. The taste of under-salted food can be improved by adding citric acid, cinnamon, parsley, cilantro or dill to dishes. Gradually, unsalted food becomes habitual.
To improve the functioning of the heart muscle and remove excess fluid from the body, foods containing potassium are needed. There are a lot of potassium salts in vegetables, fruits, berries, and juices. Cabbage, pumpkin, apricots, as well as prunes, dried apricots, raisins, and rose hips are especially rich in them.
Magnesium salts are very important; they have a vasodilating effect and help prevent vascular spasms. Rye and wheat bread with bran, oatmeal, millet, barley, buckwheat porridge (puddings, casseroles) are sources of magnesium. There is a lot of Mg in carrots, beets, lettuce, parsley, black currants, and nuts.
The consumption of strongly brewed tea and coffee should be avoided; they have a stimulating effect on the cardiovascular and nervous system. Caffeine and other stimulants in tea and coffee can cause increased heart rate, insomnia, and high blood pressure.
In order not to overload the cardiovascular system, you should reduce the total amount of liquid to 1-1.2 liters. per day, including tea, compote, milk, soup. It is recommended to give preference to vegetable, fruit, cereal, and dairy soups.
Meat and fish broths are acceptable, but not more than twice a week. It is better to boil poultry and veal meat, then it will contain fewer extractive substances that stimulate the cardiovascular system.
Limit consumption of foods high in animal fats. Animal fats increase the risk of developing atherosclerosis and obesity. Vegetable salads are best seasoned with any vegetable oil.
Patients are often overweight, so it is important to gradually lose weight. When body weight decreases by 10% from the original, blood pressure figures decrease by 5-10 mmHg. It is necessary to reduce the caloric content of food intake by limiting the consumption of sugar, jam, flour products, bread, etc. Fasting days in this case are very effective (their appointment is possible only after the recommendation of the attending physician), they are usually arranged once a week, preferably on a day off. For example, cottage cheese: 300-400 g of low-fat cottage cheese for 5 doses, 2 glasses of kefir, 1-2 cups of weak and unsweetened tea or coffee. Apple: 1-1.5 kg of apples for 5 doses.
During the day, you need to eat small portions approximately every 2.5-3 hours.

To provide the body with the necessary amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, it is important to observe their content in foods.

For an adult:

Proteins - at least 80 g, of which animal proteins - at least 50 g.
Fats - 65-70 g, of which animal fats - 50 g.
Carbohydrates - 350-400 g.
Table salt - 6 g.
The number of calories per day is 2500-2800 kcal.
The total amount of liquid drunk is 0.8 l.

Prevalence of atherosclerosis

Deterioration of memory for recent events, emotional instability are the initial manifestations of sclerosis.

Atherosclerosis of the vessels of the heart, brain, and lower extremities is actually very common. Despite advances in medicine, the first heart attack still ends in death in every third patient. The financial and human losses associated with this disease are very high. This is a problem in modern society.

Development of atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a chronic, progressive disease that affects the arteries. Fat-like substances, primarily cholesterol, penetrate their walls. An atherosclerotic plaque gradually forms, which, increasing, makes the lumen of the artery narrower, complicating blood circulation.

Atherosclerosis is a slowly developing disease. Poor nutrition, smoking, alcohol consumption, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and high blood cholesterol levels contribute to its development. Vascular atherosclerosis occurs in people after 25-30 years of age and initially does not manifest itself in any way. Gradually, the vessels lose their elasticity, their lumen narrows, organs and tissues do not receive oxygen and nutrients. Areas of circulatory disturbance form. Complications such as coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, and cerebral stroke may occur.

Most experts currently consider elevated blood cholesterol levels to be one of the main causes of atherosclerosis. Cholesterol is found only in animal fats. Cholesterol is necessary for the body to synthesize bile and sex hormones; each cell contains it as part of the membrane. According to modern doctors, the level of cholesterol in the blood plasma should not exceed 5.2 mmol/l. Mild hypercholesterolemia is diagnosed at a cholesterol level of 5.2-6.5 mmol/l, moderate - at 6.5-7.8 mmol/l, severe - at 7.8 and above.

Prevention of atherosclerosis development

To prevent coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis, a gradual but sustainable change in nutrition is necessary. You should reduce your consumption of foods containing cholesterol, animal fats, salt and alcohol.

If, after an examination, your attending physician diagnoses you with atherosclerosis or increased cholesterol in the blood, do not despair.

Proper nutrition will help you normalize blood cholesterol levels in case of heart disease, delay the development of atherosclerosis, and significantly reduce the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes. Your blood vessels will remain “clean” and healthy longer. This will prolong youth and life. If necessary, your individual attending physician will select drug therapy to lower cholesterol.

Nutrition rules

12 basic nutritional rules for people with high blood cholesterol, atherosclerosis and other heart diseases.

Food should be varied. Try to use at least 20 types of products during the day. You will provide the body with the necessary substances.
Replace meat with fish, poultry, legumes (peas, beans, lentils). Give preference to lean meats; remove visible fat from meat and skin from chicken. Portions of meat, fish or poultry should be small (90-100g when cooked); red meat (beef, lamb) is best cooked less than 2 times a week. Sausages, sausages, smoked meats, hamburgers, hot dogs, lard, pates, chips should be excluded.
When cooking, use vegetable oils: olive, corn, sunflower, soybean up to 2 tablespoons per day and “soft” margarines.
It is recommended to consume no more than 2-3 egg yolks per week.
Limit your consumption of offal.
Try to include confectionery, ice cream, and ice cream in your diet less often.
Give preference to low-fat dairy products; unsweetened yoghurts, kefir up to 1% fat, cottage cheese, 0-4%, white cheese.
Control your weight.
Eat more fruits and vegetables (at least 400g per day), excluding potatoes. Vegetables and fruits contain vitamins B and C, minerals: magnesium, potassium, calcium and fiber, which removes cholesterol. Prepare salads with vegetable oils (without mayonnaise and sour cream).
Include porridge and wholemeal bread (but without butter) in your daily diet. You can add walnuts, almonds, and dried fruits to the porridge.
Seafood is rich in iodine, include it in your diet.
Steam, boil, bake food. When preparing a dish, it is better not to add salt, but only add a little salt while eating.
For drinks, give preference to green tea, natural juices. Alcohol should be excluded.

Proper nutrition for coronary heart disease

Coronary heart disease includes angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, and heart failure. This disease is caused by insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle. In 96% of cases, the cause of coronary heart disease is atherosclerosis. Nutritional therapy is aimed at preventing the development of atherosclerosis.

If coronary heart disease is accompanied by heart failure (there is shortness of breath, edema), food is prepared without salt, and a little salt is added before eating. Patients are recommended therapeutic nutrition, diet No. 10 with fluid restriction to 800 ml per day. Strict adherence to the doctor’s prescriptions and the water-salt regime helps prevent the appearance of edema and reduce the load on the cardiovascular system.

Therapeutic nutrition after myocardial infarction

Myocardial infarction is the death of a section of the muscular wall of the heart due to an acute disruption of the blood supply. Therapeutic nutrition in patients provides favorable conditions for the healing of the heart muscle, restoration of heart function, prevents the development of complications, such as dangerous rhythm disturbances, an increase in the area of necrosis of the heart muscle, and reduces the load on the cardiovascular system associated with the functioning of the digestive system. Therapeutic nutrition stabilizes intestinal function. Therapeutic nutrition also prevents the formation of blood clots (thrombi) and normalizes metabolism.

The basic rules of nutrition for myocardial infarction are the same as for atherosclerosis. Immediately after an acute attack, many patients are weakened and have reduced appetite. Poor nutrition during this period can dramatically worsen the condition. The diet for the patient is determined by the attending physician. To prescribe a treatment menu, the period of illness is taken into account:

The acute period of myocardial infarction lasts the first 7-8 days;
The subacute period of myocardial infarction lasts 2-3 weeks;
The scarring period begins from the 4th week of illness.

In therapeutic nutrition, it is necessary to exclude salt, limit liquids, and reduce the calorie content of the diet. Food is taken approximately 8 times a day in small portions. At the beginning of the disease, warm, liquid, pureed food is prescribed. All fried, baked, baked goods are excluded, peas and beans are also excluded - due to the fact that they cause increased gas formation.

Proper nutrition should provide sufficient amounts of vitamins C, P, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and iodine ions in food. Patients are prescribed diet No. 10, recommended for cardiovascular diseases, with a sharp decrease in animal fats in food and an increase in the consumption of vegetable oils to 25-30g per day.