Diets for People With Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure occurs when not enough blood is pumped through the heart and an insufficient oxygen supply is delivered to the body. Managing your body's blood pressure, cholesterol levels, weight and diet will help with congestive heart failure.

Salt

• Reducing salt in your diet helps keep your blood pressure low and your body from retaining water. Water retention makes the heart work harder and will cause swollen legs and feet. The recommended daily allowance of salt is 2,000 milligrams for those with congestive heart failure. Be careful with light salts which still contain salt along with other compounds. You may find that you are using more of the light salt in order to get the salty taste you are used to. Other light salts may contain large amounts of potassium and could be harmful to people with kidney problems. Try to season food with herbs, spices, vinegar and lemon juice.

  Canned foods contain a hefty amount of sodium so be sure to purchase those that have not added extra sodium. Do not purchase if the sodium content is over 350 milligrams per serving.

Monitor Foods

• Foods that are low in salt include poultry, fish, milk, eggs, rice, pasta, and yogurt. Make sure salt was not added during their preparation. Condiments such as ketchup, mustard, soy sauce and steak sauce are high in sodium. Gravies, soups, cheeses and cured meats such as bacon, sausage and hot dogs contain hidden sodium. When eating out, become accustomed to terms that might mean high salt content, such as soy sauce, au jus, and pickled.

Other Treatments

• Besides reducing sodium there are other things you can do to help with congestive heart failure. Keeping a healthy weight, limiting fats in your diet and maintaining an active lifestyle all help. Moderate exercise helps keep the heart muscle healthy. Stress makes the heart work harder and with congestive heart failure the heart is already working hard enough. Reduce stress in your life with meditation, breathing exercises, or napping.

  Shortness of breath when trying to sleep can come with congestive heart failure. Propping up your head at a 45-degree angle with a pillow might help. Always consult your doctor on diet, exercise, and over-the-counter medications when dealing with a medical condition such as congestive heart failure.