Diet Plans for Coronary Heart Disease

A healthy diet plan for coronary heart disease requires consuming foods that decrease low-density lipoproteins (LDL), increasing high-density lipoproteins and maintaining calorie control. Low-density lipoproteins cause damage because they create cholesterol plaque in the arteries, which eventually causes blood clots due to buildup. High-density lipoproteins latch on to excess cholesterol in the blood and send it to the liver to be disposed. Speak with your dietitian before starting a new diet, and keep a food journal to help determine the best diet plan.

Low-density lipoproteins

• Low-density lipoproteins are also referred to as "bad" cholesterol, and can be found in whole milk dairy products, cheese, butter and ice cream. Red meat is also high in saturated fat, which contributes to high levels of cholesterol. The skin on chicken is high in saturated fat, as are egg yolks. Remove the egg yolks before cooking, or use egg substitutes for a healthier option. Replace your whole-milk dairy products with nonfat, or switch to low-fat and limit your servings. The best way to reduce saturated fat is to switch from ground beef to extra-lean ground beef, or avoiding red meat altogether. You can get similar nutrition from fish, as it is high in protein. Avoid fried foods and replace your butter and margarine with peanut, vegetable and olive oil when cooking. Trans fat can be found in baked goods and processed food, and should be avoided as it increases your LDL levels and decreases HDL levels. Garlic and soy products are also helpful as they decrease LDL levels.

High-density lipoproteins

• High-density lipoproteins are labeled as "good" cholesterol because they remove excess cholesterol from your blood and protect you from having a heart attack or stroke. Nuts such as almonds, cashews and walnuts provide monounsaturated fat (healthy fat) that reduces LDL levels, and are rich in protein. According to the Mayo Clinic, only a handful of nuts is necessary to reduce cholesterol levels. Soluble fiber reduces your LDL levels, and can be found in oatmeal and bran. According to the American Heart Association, eat at least 10 grams of soluble fiber daily to manage cholesterol. Whole-grain breads and pastas along with fruit and vegetables provide healthy amounts of dietary fiber, which help to lower your LDL and increase your HDL.

Calorie Control

• Eating more food than you can burn off leads to weight gain and can cause high cholesterol. In order to burn off calories, exercise at least 30 minutes to increase your heart rate. Physical activity such as briskly walking, running or gardening counts as exercise. Not only does exercise decrease cholesterol, it also manages blood sugar levels and helps prevent osteoporosis. Reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption, as alcohol contains empty calories. If you suffer from coronary heart disease, you should consume less than 200 milligrams of cholesterol daily.