Heart disease is the major cause of mortality in men and women and claims to take more lives compared to life threatening disease, cancer. Being diagnosed with a cardiovascular disorder can take an emotional toll and affect one’s outlook, mood, and quality of life. While weight control and regular exercises are important for keeping the heart healthy, the food one eats matters just as much.

Whether one is looking to improve their heart’s health, has been diagnosed with heart disease, has high blood pressure or high cholesterol, these heart tips shared by Dr. Sujay Shad, best Heart Doctor in Delhi, can help one manage these conditions and lower the risk of having a heart attack. Continue reading to learn more.

1. Eat More Fruits and Vegetables

Every person should stick to a well-balanced diet. An unhealthy diet may not provide the balance of nutrients needed. One should eat more fruits and vegetables as they are a great source of minerals and vitamins, which are rich in dietary fiber and low in calories.

2. Control the Portion Size

How much one eats is as crucial as what one eats. Eating until one feels stuffed can lead to more calories than one should. When eating larger portions, one should eat low, low–calorie, nutrient–rich foods. Therefore, it is essential to keep track of the servings one eats.

3. Limit Unhealthy Fats

Atherosclerosis, or the buildup of plaque in the arteries due to high blood cholesterol, can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. To prevent this, limiting unhealthy saturated and trans fat is important to reducing blood cholesterol and lowering the risk of coronary artery diseases. One should limit butter and cream sauce and instead use olive oil, canola oil, vegetable oil, margarine, nuts, seeds, and avocados to prevent heart problems.

4. Choose Low-Fat Protein Food

The best protein sources include low-fat dairy products, eggs, lean meat, poultry, and fish. One should choose less-fattening options. Legumes, beans, peas, and lentils are good protein sources and contain less fat and no cholesterol.

5. Limit the Use of Salts

Eating excessive salt can increase the risk of developing high blood pressure leading to coronary heart disease. 

6. Select Whole Grains

Adopting simple substitutes for refined grain products can increase the number of whole grains in a heart-healthy diet. Fiber and other nutrients in whole grains help control blood pressure and maintain a healthy heart. Try to restrict the consumption of white bread, muffins, frozen waffles, cornbread, donuts, biscuits, quick bread, cakes, pies, egg noodles, buttered popcorn, and salty snack crackers. Instead, prefer brown rice, barley, buckwheat, whole-grain pasta, oatmeal, high-fiber cereal (5g or more), and whole-grain bread.

Following the tips shared by the expert heart specialist can prevent heart diseases and improve cardiovascular health. To learn more ways of keeping the heart healthy and other heart surgeries, make an appointment with Dr. Sujay Shad, a leading Heart Doctor in Delhi at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi.

He specializes in performing procedures such as heart transplants, coronary bypass surgery, HOCM, aortic surgery, and mitral valve repairs and replacements. Consult the expert heart doctor today for more information!