Good Diet Choices for a Person With Heart Failure

Changing your eating habits can be challenging, but if you have heart failure, it is imperative that you do so in order to prevent further damage to your heart. A good diet will prevent the buildup of cholesterol, one of the leading causes of heart disease. Your diet will be rich in vegetables and fruits. It is going to contain whole grain foods, high-fiber foods and low-fat foods. Eating healthy will make you feel much better because your body will be getting the nutrients it needs to maintain your energy and health.

Leave the Fat Out of Your Diet

• Limiting the amount of saturated and trans fats you consume is the most important change you can make to your diet. Saturated fats are foods that come from animals like whole milk, cream, ice cream, cheeses, butter, lard and some meats. You will find trans fats in foods like cookies, crackers, cakes, french fries, onion rings and doughnuts. All these foods contain fats that raise your cholesterol, thus increasing your risk of developing more heart problems.

Lean Meat and Foods High In Cholesterol

• Limit your meat intake to only three to four times a week. Make sure the meat is 90 percent lean. Lean cuts of beef include sirloin, chuck, loin and round. Choice or select grades are better for you then prime cuts. Select tenderloin or loin chops. Leg of lamb is low in fat. Remove fat from your meat and poultry before cooking. Choose white meat instead of dark meat. Duck and goose are higher in fat content than chicken and turkey. It is important to eat two servings of fish each week. Avoid egg yolks since they are high in cholesterol. Start eating egg substitutes. They are much healthier for you.

Dairy Foods, Fruits, Veggies and Fiber

• Choose two to three servings of low-fat dairy products daily. Stay away from whole milk and milk products. They contain quite a bit of fat. Choose low-fat or no-fat yogurt, cheese and butter. Fiber is another important part of a heart healthy diet. According to the American Heart Association, when fiber is regularly eaten as part of your low-fat diet, studies have shown that it helps lower your blood cholesterol. It also reduces the risk of diabetes and colon and rectal cancer. Fruits and vegetables are low in fat and sodium and contain no cholesterol, so you should include five servings a day in your diet. You should also include plenty of whole-grain foods, such as whole wheat bread or rolls, enriched white or brown rice, and cereals high in fiber. Oatmeal is a great food to eat at breakfast.