Dietary Guidelines for Heart Health
Dietary Guidelines
Achieve an overall healthy eating pattern
- Choose a balanced diet with food from all major food groups, emphasizing fruits, vegetables and grains
- Consume a variety of fruits, vegetables and grains
- At least 5 daily servings of fruits and vegetables
- At least 6 daily servings of grain products, including whole grains
- Include fat-free and low-fat dairy products, fish, legumes, poultry and lean meats
- Eat at least 2 servings of fish per week
Achieve a Healthy Body Weight
- Limit foods that are high in calories and/or low in nutritional quality, including those with a high amount of added sugar
- Maintain a level of physical activity that achieves fitness and balances energy
- Expenditure with caloric intake
- Expenditure should exceed intake for weight reduction
Achieve a Desirable Cholesterol Level
- Limit foods with a high content of saturated fat and cholesterol
- Substitute with grains and unsaturated fat from vegetables, fish, legumes and nuts
- Limit cholesterol to 300 mg a day for the general population, and 200 mg a day for those with heart disease or it’s risk factors
Limit trans fatty acids
- Trans fatty acids are found in foods containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils such as packaged cookies, crackers, and other baked goods as well as commercially prepared fried foods and some margarines
Achieve a Desirable Blood Pressure
- Limit salt intake to less than 6 grams (2,400 mg sodium) per day ? slightly more than 1 teaspoon a day
- If you drink, limit alcohol to no more than 1 drink per day
Step I and Step II Diets
- Programs developed to treat high cholesterol and to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease which causes heart attacks
- Helps patients set goals for reducing cholesterol and promote good nutrition
Nutrient | Step I | Step II |
Total Fat | 30% or less | 30% or less |
Saturated | 7-10% | less than 10% |
Polyunsaturated | Up to 10% | Up to 10% |
Monounsaturated | Up to 15% | Up to 15% |
Carbohydrates | 55% or more | 55% or more |
Protein | 15% | 15% |
Cholesterol | less than 300 mg per day | less than 200 mg per day |
Total Calories | to achieve and maintain desired weight | to achieve and maintain desired weight |
Basic Food Groups | |
Lean meat, poultry and fish | No more than 6 oz per day; fish 2 times per week |
Vegetables and fruit | 5 or more per day |
Fat-free skim milk and low-fat dairy products | 2-4 per day |
Eggs | Eggs have 213 mg of cholesterol per yolk; limit 300mg per day; egg whites not limited |
Breads, cereals, pasta and starchy vegetables | 6 or more per day |
For more information on Cardiac Rehabilitation, see these related NetWellness features:
- Cardiac Rehabilitation Overview
- Discharge Activity Guidelines for Cardiac Patients
- How to Quit Smoking and Reduce Your Risk of Heart Disease
- Stress, Depression and Heart Disease
For more information:
Go to the Cardiac Rehabilitation health topic.