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[ What is Heart Disease | Exercises
for Heart Patients | Nutrition for Heart Disease ]
Nutrition for Heart Disease
Guide to Healthy Eating
You can help lower your risk for heart disease by following Canada's
Food Guide to Healthy Eating. This guide has these important points:
- Enjoy a variety of foods from all four food groups.
- Eat more cereals, breads, other grain products and vegetables and
fruit, which are high in fiber.
- Choose lower-fat dairy products, leaner meats and food prepared with
little or no fat.
- Limit salt, sugar, alcohol and caffeine in your daily food program.
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Limit your salt intake
- Salt acts like a sponge by keeping extra fluid in your body and causing
your heart to work harder to circulate the extra fluid.
- Avoid adding salt to your food during cooking and at the table. Avoid
choosing high salt foods. These include processed and pre-packaged food
items.
- Your dietitian will provide you with specific salt and sodium restricted
diet information for you to follow.
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Limit your fluid intake
- In order to reduce the amount of work your heart has to do, it is
also important to limit how much fluid you consume daily.
- Fluid is usually restricted to 4-6 cups (1-1.5 liters) of fluid per
day. Ask your doctor what your fluid restriction is.
- It is important to spread out your fluid intake throughout the day.
- A fluid is anything that is liquid at room temperature, such as water,
milk, juices, Jell-O®, popsicles and ice cream.
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Tips to decrease thirst
If you find thirst to be a problem, follow these helpful tips to help
you control your fluid intake.
- Try sucking on a sliced lemon wedge, hard candy or chewing gum to
moisten your mouth.
- Try putting lemon juice or lemonade into ice-cubes and suck on them.
- Brush your teeth frequently.
- Rinse your mouth with water but do not swallow. If this is too tempting
keep mouthwash in the fridge…you will not want to swallow that.
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Maintain a healthy body weight
- It is important that you maintain a healthy body weight.
- Some people benefit from weight loss to manage heart disease. Other
people need to increase their calories to gain weight. Discuss goals
around body weight with your dietitian.
- Weight gain may be due to fluid. Weigh yourself daily to help monitor
how much fluid you have gained.
- Weigh yourself with an empty bladder, on the same scale, at the same
time of the day and with the same amount of clothing to ensure your weight
is accurate.
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Good lifestyle habits
Your health depends on the choices you make and the lifestyle you choose.
By making small lifestyle and dietary changes, you can help manage and
control your symptoms.
- Take the medications that your doctor prescribes.
- Tell your doctor about any laxatives, cough/cold antacids, herbal
and/or nutritional supplements you are taking or planning to take.
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Know your symptoms
Knowing your symptoms of congestive heart failure can help you stay in
control and keep you out of the hospital. Be sure to report any of the
following symptoms to your doctor or nurse as soon as possible:
- Increased shortness of breath.
- Swelling of ankles or legs.
- Increased urination at night.
- Weight gain of more than 2 pounds or 1 kg over 2 days or 5 pounds
or 3 kg in a single week.
- Extreme fatigue/tiredness.
This resource was developed by Registered Dietitians, Regional Nutrition
and Food Service, Capital Health and Caritas Health Group.
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