Abdominal Aneurysm Diet

An abdominal aneurysm, more commonly known as an abdominal aortic aneurysm, is some level of distention or enlargement of the lower portion of the aorta due to a weakening in the blood-vessel wall. While the actual cause of this condition is still unknown, there are certain factors that can put you at a greater risk of developing an abdominal aneurysm, such as smoking and high blood pressure. Lifestyle changes are an important part of your recovery---and prevention---plan.

Cholesterol

• For most cases of abdominal aneurysms, a "heart-healthy" eating plan is a key ingredient to your treatment, so start off by limiting the amount of cholesterol in your diet. A good goal for dietary cholesterol intake is fewer than 300 mg per day, unless you're also dealing with another condition like high blood pressure or high blood cholesterol. In this situation, limit your intake to no more that 200 mg per day.

  Foods containing higher levels of cholesterol are typically red meats, eggs and dairy; therefore seek out lean meats, poultry, fish, skim milk, 1-percent cheese products and other low-fat dairy. With eggs, opt for "yolk-less" products commonly found in your grocer's dairy case or simply avoid them altogether.

Fats

• Besides cholesterol, a heart-healthy diet also requires some attention be paid to fat intake, namely saturated and trans fats, so avoid foods containing these substances. No more than 25 percent of your caloric intake should consist of fat, including both monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats ("good" fats). However, saturated fat and trans fat should make up no more that 7 and 1 percent of your daily calories, respectively.

  Foods containing larger amounts of saturated fats include beef, pork, butter, whole milk, cream, cheese, coconuts and tropical oils, like palm and coconut. Trans fats are found in fried foods, chips, crackers and cookies as well as some cooking oils. Consequently, eat foods like salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines, lean meats, corn, flax, avocado, nuts and soy as well as olive oil or canola oil.

Salt

• As with any eating habit involving the health of your cardiovascular system, an abdominal aneurysm diet requires you to limit your sodium intake to less than 3,000 mg per day. But with abdominal aneurysms resulting from high blood pressure or high blood cholesterol, try to bring your intake to fewer than 2,000 mg per day. This means avoiding processed foods, frozen meals, prepackaged dinners, lunch meat, canned soups and some canned vegetables. The most effective way of limiting your sodium intake is to become a package reader, since most (if not all) high-sodium foods have the amount of sodium listed on the box, jar or can.

Foods

• If you have an abdominal aneurysm, it is also very important to increase your intake of amount fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Almost any fruits and vegetables are ideal, but try to stick to fresh and seasonal varieties. These types of produce contain the most nutrients. With whole grains, most products containing bran, barley or oats are great options, yet make sure to read the labels to ensure they're not high in sodium, cholesterol or fat.