What foods can help prevent atherosclerosis. How does an anti-inflammatory diet benefit heart health. Which antioxidant-rich foods should you incorporate into your meals. What lifestyle changes can reduce your risk of coronary artery disease.

Understanding Atherosclerosis: The Silent Threat to Your Arteries

Atherosclerosis, the gradual buildup of plaque in your arteries, is a condition that develops slowly over many years. This insidious process causes arteries to harden and narrow, potentially leading to serious cardiovascular complications. While some risk factors like age and family history are beyond our control, many aspects of atherosclerosis prevention are within our grasp.

The primary modifiable risk factors for atherosclerosis include:

• Diet
• Physical activity levels
• Smoking habits
• Body weight
• Blood pressure
• Blood cholesterol levels
• Blood glucose levels

By focusing on these areas, we can significantly reduce our risk of developing atherosclerosis and its potentially life-threatening complications, such as heart attacks and strokes.

The Critical Role of Diet in Atherosclerosis Prevention

Your dietary choices play a crucial role in determining your risk for atherosclerosis and overall heart health. A heart-healthy diet forms the cornerstone of atherosclerosis prevention and management. But what exactly constitutes a heart-healthy diet?

A diet that promotes cardiovascular health typically includes:

• Abundant fruits and vegetables
• Whole grains
• Fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids
• Lean meats and poultry
• Low-fat dairy products
• Nuts, seeds, and legumes

Equally important is limiting certain foods that can contribute to atherosclerosis:

• Sodium
• Saturated and trans fats
• Refined carbohydrates
• Alcohol

Antioxidant-Rich Foods: Your Allies Against Arterial Damage

Antioxidants play a vital role in protecting your arteries from oxidative stress and inflammation, two key factors in the development of atherosclerosis. Which foods are particularly high in these protective compounds?

• Berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries)
• Dark leafy greens (spinach, kale, collard greens)
• Nuts (walnuts, pecans, almonds)
• Dark chocolate (70% cocoa or higher)
• Green tea
• Pomegranates
• Beets
• Artichokes

Incorporating these antioxidant-rich foods into your daily diet can help combat the oxidative damage that contributes to plaque formation in your arteries.

The Power of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Fighting Atherosclerosis

Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to have significant anti-inflammatory effects, making them valuable allies in the fight against atherosclerosis. How can you increase your intake of these heart-healthy fats?

• Consume fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, and sardines at least twice a week
• Include plant-based sources such as flaxseeds, chia seeds, and walnuts in your diet
• Consider using algae-based omega-3 supplements if you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet

Regular consumption of omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce inflammation in your arteries, lower triglycerides, and improve overall cardiovascular health.

The Mediterranean Diet: A Blueprint for Heart Health

The Mediterranean diet has long been associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, including atherosclerosis. This eating pattern emphasizes:

• Plenty of fruits and vegetables
• Whole grains
• Legumes
• Nuts and seeds
• Olive oil as the primary source of fat
• Moderate consumption of fish and poultry
• Limited red meat intake
• Optional moderate red wine consumption

Studies have shown that following a Mediterranean-style diet can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. The diet’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties make it an excellent choice for those looking to prevent or manage atherosclerosis.

Beyond Diet: Lifestyle Factors in Atherosclerosis Prevention

While diet plays a crucial role in preventing atherosclerosis, other lifestyle factors are equally important. What other steps can you take to protect your arteries?

Regular Physical Activity

Exercise is a powerful tool in the fight against atherosclerosis. Regular physical activity can help:

• Lower blood pressure
• Improve cholesterol levels
• Control blood sugar
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Reduce stress

Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity per week, along with muscle-strengthening activities at least twice a week.

Smoking Cessation

If you smoke, quitting is perhaps the single most important step you can take to reduce your risk of atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases. Smoking damages your blood vessels and increases inflammation, both of which contribute to plaque buildup in your arteries.

Stress Management

Chronic stress can contribute to inflammation and other risk factors for atherosclerosis. Incorporating stress-reduction techniques into your daily routine can help protect your heart health. Consider practices such as:

• Meditation
• Deep breathing exercises
• Yoga
• Regular exercise
• Adequate sleep

The Role of Supplements in Atherosclerosis Prevention

While a balanced diet should be your primary source of nutrients, certain supplements may offer additional protection against atherosclerosis. Which supplements have shown promise in supporting heart health?

• Omega-3 fatty acids
• Coenzyme Q10
• Vitamin D
• Magnesium
• Garlic extract

It’s important to note that supplements should not be used as a substitute for a healthy diet and lifestyle. Always consult with your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement regimen, especially if you’re taking medications for heart health.

Monitoring Your Heart Health: Key Indicators to Watch

Regular check-ups and health screenings are essential for detecting and managing atherosclerosis early. Which key indicators should you monitor?

• Blood pressure
• Cholesterol levels (total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides)
• Blood glucose levels
• Body Mass Index (BMI)
• Waist circumference

Your healthcare provider can help you interpret these values and determine if any interventions are necessary to reduce your risk of atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases.

Emerging Research in Atherosclerosis Prevention

The field of cardiovascular health is constantly evolving, with new research shedding light on novel approaches to preventing and managing atherosclerosis. Some exciting areas of current research include:

Gut Microbiome and Heart Health

Recent studies have suggested a link between the composition of gut bacteria and cardiovascular health. Certain beneficial bacteria may help reduce inflammation and improve cholesterol metabolism, potentially lowering the risk of atherosclerosis.

Chronotherapy

This approach involves timing medication administration to align with the body’s natural circadian rhythms. Some research suggests that taking certain heart medications at specific times of day may enhance their effectiveness in preventing atherosclerosis progression.

Personalized Nutrition

Advances in genetic testing and metabolomics are paving the way for more personalized dietary recommendations. In the future, it may be possible to tailor diet plans to an individual’s genetic makeup and metabolic profile for optimal atherosclerosis prevention.

As research in these areas continues to progress, we may see new strategies emerge for preventing and managing atherosclerosis more effectively.

Creating a Comprehensive Atherosclerosis Prevention Plan

Preventing atherosclerosis requires a multifaceted approach that addresses various aspects of your lifestyle and health. How can you create a comprehensive plan to protect your arteries?

1. Assess your current risk factors with your healthcare provider
2. Develop a heart-healthy eating plan tailored to your needs and preferences
3. Establish a regular exercise routine that you enjoy and can maintain long-term
4. If you smoke, create a smoking cessation plan with support from your healthcare team
5. Implement stress-reduction techniques into your daily routine
6. Schedule regular check-ups and health screenings
7. Consider appropriate supplements under medical guidance
8. Stay informed about the latest research and recommendations for heart health

Remember, small, consistent changes can make a significant difference in your long-term heart health. By taking proactive steps to prevent atherosclerosis, you’re investing in a healthier future for yourself and your loved ones.

The journey to optimal heart health is ongoing, but with the right knowledge, tools, and support, you can significantly reduce your risk of atherosclerosis and its complications. By embracing a heart-healthy lifestyle that includes a nutrient-rich diet, regular physical activity, and stress management, you’re taking powerful steps to protect your arteries and overall cardiovascular health.

As you implement these strategies, remember that consistency is key. Small, sustainable changes made over time can lead to significant improvements in your heart health. Stay committed to your atherosclerosis prevention plan, and don’t hesitate to seek support from healthcare professionals, friends, and family along the way.

Your heart works tirelessly to keep you alive and well. By taking care of it through conscious lifestyle choices and regular medical check-ups, you’re not just preventing atherosclerosis – you’re paving the way for a longer, healthier, and more vibrant life. Here’s to your heart health and the journey of wellness that lies ahead!

What You Can Do to Prevent Atherosclerosis

Maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, and eating well can help prevent plaque buildup in your arteries.

By Quinn PhillipsMedically Reviewed by Chung Yoon, MD

Reviewed: September 25, 2022

Medically Reviewed

A healthy diet and regular exercise can help you prevent atherosclerosis.Depositphotos

Atherosclerosis — the buildup of plaque in your arteries, causing them to harden and narrow — develops slowly over a number of years.

Your chances of developing atherosclerosis are based on several different risk factors. Some of these can’t be changed, like your age and your personal and family medical history.

But other factors that influence the onset of atherosclerosis are either partially or fully under your control. Chief among these are your eating habits, how much exercise you get, and whether you smoke. (1)

Certain risk factors for atherosclerosis are measured values that can’t be changed on their own — things like your body weight, blood pressure, and blood cholesterol and glucose levels. But there are still steps you can take to reduce these risks, from leading an active and healthy lifestyle to taking medications as prescribed by your doctor.

It’s important to take whatever steps you can to reduce your risk of developing atherosclerosis since complications of the condition can include life-threatening medical emergencies like a stroke or heart attack. (2)

Kick Your Smoking Habit

If you smoke, quitting is the single most important step you can take to reduce your risk for atherosclerosis and other heart disease risk factors. (2)

Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death and illness in the United States, accounting for about 1 in 5 deaths each year. (3)

One major way that smoking takes its deadly toll is by harming your blood vessels. Cigarette smoke contains a number of toxic chemicals that enter your bloodstream. (4)

These chemicals raise your risk for atherosclerosis in a number of different ways, such as increasing inflammation in your arteries and making platelets in your blood coagulate (clot) more easily. (4)

If you smoke or use tobacco in another form, talk to your doctor about coming up with a strategy to effectively quit.

Eat a Heart-Healthy Diet

Your diet is an especially important factor in your risk for atherosclerosis, and heart disease generally.

A heart-healthy diet includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, lean meats and poultry, low-fat dairy products, nuts, seeds, and legumes (dried beans and peas).

It also limits sodium, saturated and trans fats, refined carbohydrates, and alcohol. (1)

The following food groups and items form the basis of a heart-healthy diet:

Vegetables Good choices include fresh and frozen varieties of almost any vegetable, with special attention to getting a variety of colors and textures.

It’s important, though, to limit vegetables in creamy sauces, high-sodium canned vegetables, and those that are fried or breaded.

Fruits Fresh or frozen fruits, as well as those canned or preserved in juice or water, are good choices.

Avoid fruits canned in heavy sugar-based syrup, and frozen fruits with sugar added.

Grains Whole grains should form the basis of your grain intake. Good choices include:

• Whole-grain bread and wraps
• High-fiber cereals
• Whole-grain pasta
• Oatmeal
• Brown rice
• Barley
• Quinoa
• Bulgur wheat or farro

Avoid or limit the following items:

• White bread
• Muffins (most varieties)
• Frozen waffles (most varieties)
• Snack crackers (most varieties)
• Cornbread
• Doughnuts
• Biscuits
• Cakes
• Cookies
• Egg noodles
• Buttered popcorn

Dairy Products Good choices include low-fat milk, cheese, and yogurt. Avoid or limit full-fat milk and other dairy products in your diet.

Protein-Rich Foods Lean sources of protein are important to include in your diet — whether they come from animal or vegetarian sources.

Good sources of protein include:

• Lean meats (such as 95 percent lean ground beef or pork)
• Poultry without the skin
• Fish, especially cold-water fatty fish (salmon, tuna, trout)
• Eggs
• Soy products (tofu, tempeh, soy burgers)
• Legumes (beans, lentils, chickpeas, black-eyed peas)

Avoid or limit the following items:

• Fatty or marbled meats
• Spareribs
• Chicken wings
• Hot dogs and sausages
• Lunchmeat
• Bacon
• Breaded or fried meat, fish, or poultry

Oils and Fats It’s important to include healthy fats in your diet, ideally in the least-refined form possible — such as choosing nuts and seeds over refined oils.

Still, certain oils are considered healthier choices, and it’s important to choose lightly salted or unsalted varieties of nuts and seeds.

Healthy sources of fat include:

• Nuts and nut butters
• Seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, flax, sesame)
• Avocados
• Olive, canola, sesame, sunflower, corn, and soybean oils

Sources of fat to avoid include:

• Butter
• Lard
• Bacon fat
• Cream and cream-based sauces
• Nondairy creamers
• Vegetable shortening
• Margarine made with hydrogenated oils
• Palm, palm kernel, coconut, and cottonseed oils (1,5)

Get Enough Exercise

Along with your diet, exercise is a key component of a heart-healthy lifestyle.

Physical activity can help your muscles use oxygen more effectively, as well as improve your blood circulation by promoting new blood vessel growth. It can also lower high blood pressure — a key risk factor for atherosclerosis.

A good rule of thumb is to get 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise most days of the week. You can split this up into 10-minute segments if necessary. (2)

More specifically, guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services indicate that most adults should get 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise each week, or 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise.

But more physical activity will yield even more health benefits, and exercising less than is recommended is still better than no exercise at all. In fact, getting just 1 hour of moderate aerobic exercise each week has been shown to have health benefits. (1)

Aerobic exercise is any physical activity that raises your heart and breathing rate. Good choices may include:

• Walking
• Running or jogging
• Cycling (regular or stationary)
• Swimming
• Cross-country skiing
• Aerobic dance
• Elliptical machines
• Stair-climbing machines (6)

Keep Track of Your Numbers

While you can’t control them directly, there are several body-related measurements that have been shown to correspond to your risk for atherosclerosis and heart disease.

It’s important to try to stay within recommended ranges of these measurements, both by following a heart-healthy lifestyle and by taking any treatments prescribed by your doctor to address them.

The following numbers are important to watch:

• Your blood pressure
• Your blood cholesterol levels
• Your blood glucose levels (as shown in screening tests if you don’t have diabetes)
• Your body weight
• Your waist circumference (1,2)

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Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking

1. What Is Atherosclerosis? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. March 24, 2022.
2. Arteriosclerosis/Atherosclerosis. Mayo Clinic. July 1, 2022.
3. Smoking and Your Heart. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. March 24, 2022.
4. Siasos G, Tsigkou V, Kokkou E, et al. Smoking and Atherosclerosis: Mechanisms of Disease and New Therapeutic Approaches. Current Medicinal Chemistry. 2014.
5. Heart-Healthy Diet: 8 Steps to Prevent Heart Disease. Mayo Clinic. April 28, 2022.
6. Aerobic Exercise and Heart Health. Cleveland Clinic. April 25, 2019.

Additional Sources

• Executive Summary: Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd Edition [PDF]. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2018. 

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Mediterranean Diet Reduces Atherosclerosis Progression

Aug 16, 2021

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Authors:

Jimenez-Torres J, Alcalá-Diaz JF, Torres-Peña JD, et al.

Citation:

Mediterranean Diet Reduces Atherosclerosis Progression in Coronary Heart Disease: An Analysis of the CORDIOPREV Randomized Controlled Trial. Stroke 2021;Aug 10:[Epub ahead of print].

Summary By:

Elizabeth A. Jackson, MD, FACC

Quick Takes

• A Mediterranean dietary pattern appears beneficial in the secondary prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD).
• Reductions in intima-media thickness (IMT) measures after adopting a Mediterranean diet were observed in adults with established CHD. In contrast, a low-fat diet did not result in changes in IMT.
• Changes in carotid IMT were observed over a long-term follow-up (i.e., up to 7 years).

Study Questions:

Does a Mediterranean dietary pattern reduce atherosclerosis among patients with established coronary heart disease (CHD)?

Methods:

The CORDIOPREV study (Coronary Diet Intervention With Olive Oil and Cardiovascular Prevention) is an ongoing prospective, randomized, single-blind, controlled trial in 1,002 CHD patients recruited between November 2009 and February 2012 from one European country (Spain). The study compared two healthy dietary patterns (low-fat rich in complex carbohydrates vs. a Mediterranean diet rich in extra virgin olive oil) on the incidence of cardiovascular events. The Mediterranean diet was defined as 35% fat, 22% monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and 55% carbohydrates. This study presents outcomes including common carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT-CC) assessment with ultrasound at baseline, 5 years, and 7 years. An additional outcome included carotid plaque number and height.

Results:

A total of 939 participants who completed baseline and follow-up ultrasounds were included in the present analysis. During follow-up, both dietary intervention groups reduced total energy intake. The Mediterranean diet group increased fiber and total fat intake (i.e., increased MUFAs and polyunsaturated fatty acids [PUFAs]) but reduced consumption of saturated fatty acids, total carbohydrates, and cholesterol. The low-fat diet group increased total carbohydrates and fiber intake while decreasing cholesterol and total fat (i.e., increased PUFAs with reductions in MUFAs and saturated fatty acids). The Mediterranean diet group had reduced IMT at 5 years (-0.27 ± 0.008 mm, p

Conclusions:

The investigators concluded that long-term consumption of a Mediterranean diet rich in extra virgin olive oil was associated with decreased atherosclerosis progression, as shown by reduced IMT-CC and carotid plaque height, compared to a low-fat diet.

Perspective:

These data support the current recommendation for a Mediterranean diet for secondary prevention of CHD. This dietary pattern is high in fruits and vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. In addition, participants in the current study also consumed higher amounts of oily fish, nuts, and extra virgin olive oil, while lowering the intake of red meats and processed foods compared to the typical western diet.

Clinical Topics: Diabetes and Cardiometabolic Disease, Dyslipidemia, Noninvasive Imaging, Prevention, Lipid Metabolism, Nonstatins, Statins, Echocardiography/Ultrasound, Diet

Keywords: Atherosclerosis, Carotid Artery, Common, Carotid Intima-Media Thickness, Cholesterol, Coronary Disease, Diet, Diet, Fat-Restricted, Diet, Mediterranean, Energy Intake, Fatty Acids, Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated, Fatty Acids, Unsaturated, Fruit, Nuts, Primary Prevention, Secondary Prevention, Stroke, Vegetables

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Atherosclerosis diet

Patient menu for atherosclerosis, diet for atherosclerosis

Patient menu for atherosclerosis, diet for atherosclerosis

DETAILED NUTRITIONAL PRINCIPLES AND MENU OF A PATIENT WITH ATHEROSCLEROSIS

HEART AND VESSELS

Competent nutrition for every day or a ready-made diet is the key to excellent health and reducing the risk of additional diseases. This applies to people of all age categories, both from a preventive and therapeutic point of view.

Diet can help with a number of serious diseases, stabilize the situation, eliminate multiple health risks. In the case of cardiovascular diseases, the formation of a healthy diet plays an important role along with drug treatment and physiotherapy, which are carried out under the supervision of a physician.

General principles of human nutrition in case of diseases of the heart and blood vessels

The goal of the hypocholesterol diet is to reduce cholesterol levels to less than 5.0 mmol/l. As you already know, the diet is based on the principles of the N10 table. The task of the diet is to slow down the development of atherosclerosis, improve blood circulation, and reduce excess body weight.

To avoid complications due to diseased heart vessels, adhere to the following general principles of nutrition:

Let’s put your diet in order. For starters, avoid overeating. The correct option is 4-5 meals a day with a pre-composed diet for a week. By eating regularly by the clock, a person eliminates the accumulation of food in the stomach, its pressure on the diaphragm, and the constant load on the cardiovascular system.
A hypertensive patient should limit salt intake. It is reasonable to replace it with magnesium and potassium salts, or even exclude it from the menu. With the abuse of salts, a slowdown in metabolism, stimulation of appetite, and fluid retention in the body are observed. There is a high probability of edema formation, primarily in the area of ​​the extremities.

We support the water regime. Drink enough liquid per day (at least a liter). Make a choice in favor of ordinary water, weak teas, drinks from herbs and shrubs (linden, rose hips, raspberries). Sweet drinks, juices, compotes, coffee should be limited. Drink water in small amounts, preferably 25-35 minutes before a meal. This will prepare the stomach for eating, creating a feeling of satiety from a decrease in the volume of food.
Refuse fatty foods. This includes not only prepared food (semi-finished products, sausages, pork, fast food), but also methods of cooking. Frying is excluded, the use of oils too. Try to cook without resorting to complex recipes, with minimal food processing.
We exclude sweets. This category of products invariably stimulates appetite, contributes to the appearance of excess body weight, and increases the load on the heart muscle. It is acceptable to replace sugar with fruits, low-calorie sweets or a small amount of chocolate, honey.

Dairy products are a source of vitamins, amino acids, proteins. Normalizes digestion, metabolic processes, reduces the load on the digestive system.
Include low-fat kefir, cottage cheese, fermented baked milk, milk, curdled milk, natural yoghurts in the diet on an ongoing basis.
Vegetables will become a source of vitamins, fiber, carbohydrates, microelements. Green peas, green beans, avocados, parsley, olives, carrots, beets, cabbage, cucumber, sweet peppers are considered balanced and healthy.
Fruits will successfully replace sweets and help maintain vitamin balance. For this, apricots, kiwi, lemon, pomegranate, mango, watermelon, peaches, pear are suitable.
Cereal crops are rich in gluten, microelements, carbohydrates. First of all, it is oats, lentils, rice, buckwheat.
Protein food. We rely on meat and fish products: lean meats – chicken, turkey, rabbit, veal, fish and seafood. Such food will help normalize the processes of hematopoiesis, strengthen the system, and provide high-quality protein necessary for the full development of the organs of the circulatory system.
Vegetable fats. For the full functioning of the cardiac system, vitamin E plays a decisive role. Its presence is noted in large quantities in walnuts, pistachios, peanuts, hemp and flaxseed, and olive oils. These products will replace animal fats safely and equally.

List of potentially dangerous groups of products that are excluded for vascular diseases:

Flour and sweet. Muffin, sweets – completely excluded from the diet. They become the culprit of excess weight, the appearance of cellulite, and can have a negative effect on the vascular system. First of all, these are pastries, white bread, cakes, pastries, sweets.
Fatty meats easily become the culprits of the accumulation of “bad” cholesterol, contribute to lipid deposits in the body, increase the load on the liver, and hence on the heart. Pork, goose, lard, all sausages, any smoked products and canned food, fish caviar are considered dangerous.
Dairy products with a high fat content, especially with constant use, contribute to the fixation of fat deposits in the vascular system. You need to be careful with sour cream, cream, butter, cream cheeses. It is better to refuse the listed.

Fast food is a doubly dangerous category of food, which is an accumulation of all the most dangerous and useless for a person. French fries, crackers, chips, sauces, mayonnaise, burgers, sandwiches, pies contain an excess of trans fats, flavor enhancers and substitutes. They adversely affect metabolism, the health of the vascular system, and greatly increase the risk of heart attack and coronary disease.
Drinks. A number of liquids can stimulate appetite, provoke an additional load on the vessels. Give up sugary drinks, alcohol, juices. People with risk factors for coronary heart disease, and even more so with existing cardiovascular disease, are advised to limit coffee consumption to no more than two cups a day.
Soups, broths. Rich soups negatively affect the functioning of the digestive system, are rich in unnecessary components: fats, suspensions, emulsions, which adversely affect the cardiovascular system.

Diet and rationally chosen food largely determine a person’s health and standard of living. In the case of vascular diseases, the task of any patient is to minimize additional health risks. Useless food will increase the likelihood of ischemic strokes and heart attacks. That is why the diet is an important step towards the improvement of the patient, the exclusion of critical conditions.

We adhere to a nutritional balance in nutrition. Control of the calorie content of the diet, taking into account gender, age, professional needs to achieve or maintain normal body weight. At the same time, the diet includes: carbohydrates (320-400 gr.), protein (90-100 gr.), Fats (80 gr.). Diet table No. 10 is suitable as a ready-made option.
Meals are divided into fractions with equal intervals of intake per day. Observe the time schedule: breakfast (8-9 am), second breakfast (10-11 am), lunch (13-14 pm), afternoon tea (16-17 pm), dinner (18-19 pm). It is acceptable to have an additional light snack a couple of hours before bedtime.
Food is best steamed or boiled. Try to cook regularly fresh food for every meal. Don’t add food.

Core diet rules:

Dietary diversity. The diet is distinguished by freshness, variety: soups, salads, individual dishes. Cook simply and varied, this will help you systematically switch to a suitable diet painlessly and quickly.
Clear timing of meals for every day. We eat according to the same food scheme. It is unacceptable to reduce the number of meals, combine them together or ignore them. This is fraught with a shift in the scope of the regime, the occurrence of overeating, an additional burden on the heart. Eat by the clock every day. Stick to a menu that is prepared in advance, for example, for a week.
Stay hydrated. It is best to choose plain water. Patients with cardiovascular disease are advised to reduce their intake of caffeinated beverages.

Breakfast
– low-fat cottage cheese with kiwi, a glass of weak black tea without sugar.
Snack
– rice porridge with water and honey, natural yoghurt.
Lunch
– vegetable soup like cabbage soup or pickle, rye toast, buckwheat porridge.
Snack
– muesli, homemade berry mousse.
Dinner
– boiled potatoes, rabbit meat.
Evening snack
– green apple, herbal tea.

Day 1. Monday

Breakfast
– a salad of radish, celery, parsley, a slice of hard cheese.
Snack
– curdled milk, lean cookies, pear.
Lunch
– okroshka, a little boiled veal.
Snack
– cheesecakes, apricots.
Dinner
– steamed carp, stewed zucchini.
Evening snack
– low-fat milk, a glass of berries.

Day 2. Tuesday

Breakfast
– apple-carrot puree, kefir, wholemeal bread.
Snack
– two egg omelet with tomato, fermented baked milk.
Lunch
– rabbit stew with vegetables.
Snack
– berry jelly, pomegranate.
Dinner
– barley porridge, fresh cucumber.
Evening snack
– green apple, herbal tea.

Day 3. Wednesday

Breakfast
– banana puree with cottage cheese, still mineral water.
Snack
– semolina porridge with fresh berries.
Lunch
– boiled cabbage with turkey meat, fresh avocado.
Snack
– rice porridge in milk with quince pieces, weak green tea.
Dinner
– salad of olives, cabbage, cheese, beans, chicken, rye croutons.
Evening snack
– a couple of fresh apples.

Day 4. Thursday

Breakfast
– poached egg, fresh cucumber, parsley, toast, tea.
Snack
– milk, banana, bread.
Lunch
– barley porridge, flounder, tomato.
Snack
– pumpkin puree, sweet pepper.
Dinner
– brown rice, stewed veal with zucchini, onions, broccoli, carrots.
Evening snack
– curdled milk, a slice of cheese.

Day 5. Friday

Breakfast
– pistachios, kefir, grapefruit.
Snack
– cabbage, beetroot, potato, onion casserole.
Lunch
– salad of olives, chicken, cheese, corn, herbs.
Snack
– pear puree, fermented baked milk.
Dinner
– lentils, turkey fillet, fresh peppers.
Evening snack
– pomegranate, herbal tea.

Day 6. Saturday

Breakfast
– berry jelly, cottage cheese casserole with honey.
Snack
– steamed omelet, radish, parsley.
Lunch
– milk soup with buckwheat and marrow.
Snack
– avocado, sorrel, carrot, cabbage salad.
Dinner
– rabbit meat with boiled eggplant.
Evening snack
– kefir, peach.

Day 7. Sunday

How can diet help beat heart disease?

The listed heart diseases in most cases are of a chronic nature. This is the result of accumulated unfavorable changes. Atherosclerosis is a clear confirmation of this. Most often, this disease is caused by a violation of carbohydrate-lipid metabolism in the body. Improper nutrition, lack of regimen disrupt metabolism, lead to narrowing of the internal lumen of blood vessels, and contribute to the formation of cholesterol plaques.

Diet is one of the first reasonable steps in atherosclerosis. Thanks to the diet, the patient will be able to organize his own diet, control it over a given time period, and return metabolic processes to their natural course.

This is a complex system that needs to be built according to an individual scheme, taking into account the patient’s condition, the presence of additional risks and diseases. Combinations of products, their choice, affect each person differently, therefore, when choosing a particular diet, be sure to consult with a supervising doctor and nutritionist.

Lack of an accurate diagnosis, self-medication, incompetence in the choice of products for the diet are highly likely to complicate the patient’s condition.

This is due to the fact that suitable foods should be selected for each specific heart disease, and the diet is aimed at specific tasks: weight loss, reducing sugar and salt intake, preventing the development of critical conditions, normalizing metabolism, replenishing the deficiency of certain substances and elements for the full functioning of the body, its systems, organs.