The best diet for heart patients is a heart-healthy eating pattern, such as the Mediterranean or DASH diet. It is rich in vegetables, fruit, whole grains, beans, nuts, fish and healthy oils, and low in salt, saturated fat, trans fat, sugar and processed food. Diet works alongside medicines and medical care, so follow your cardiologist’s advice for your own condition.
What you eat influences several things that strain the heart:
A heart-friendly diet cannot reverse serious heart disease on its own. It helps protect the heart, supports medicines and lowers the chance of further problems.
Based on vegetables, fruit, whole grains, beans, nuts, fish and olive oil, with little red meat and few sweets. It is one of the best-studied diets for heart health.
DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. It emphasises vegetables, fruit, whole grains, low-fat dairy and lean protein, with little salt, and is widely used to lower blood pressure.
Fill half the plate with vegetables, a quarter with dal or lean protein, and a quarter with whole grains such as roti or brown rice. Add a small portion of curd and cook with limited oil.
Spinach, methi, broccoli, carrots, tomatoes and gourds give fibre, potassium and antioxidants.
Apples, oranges, guava, papaya, berries and pomegranate are good choices. Eat the whole fruit rather than juice, and watch portions if you have diabetes.
Oats, brown rice, millets, barley and whole wheat provide fibre that helps lower cholesterol.
Dal, chickpeas, rajma and soy replace some meat and add fibre and plant protein.
Salmon, sardines and mackerel eaten about twice a week support heart health. Vegetarians can use walnuts, flaxseed and chia seeds.
A small handful of almonds, walnuts or pumpkin seeds a day gives healthy fats. Choose unsalted types.
Use olive, mustard, groundnut or other unsaturated oils in small amounts. Use ghee and butter sparingly.
Choose skimmed or low-fat milk, curd, paneer in moderation, eggs, skinless chicken and fish.
Most people eat more salt than they need. General guidance is to keep salt to about one teaspoon (5 g) a day or less, and some heart patients are advised to go lower. Your doctor will tell you your limit.
Some medicines interact with food, so ask your doctor or pharmacist before making changes.
Your doctor may advise limiting salt and sometimes fluids. Follow the fluid limit set for you, and weigh yourself regularly as advised.
Focus on fibre, unsaturated fats, and less saturated and trans fat.
Follow the DASH approach, cut salt and keep a healthy weight.
Choose high-fibre carbohydrates, control portions and avoid sugary foods and drinks.
Your care team may give a specific diet plan. Follow it, and ask about cardiac rehabilitation.
Good nutrition supports overall health during any treatment. For patients considering or receiving stem cell treatment, a balanced diet complements medical care but does not guarantee results. Your Viezec doctor will advise you based on your condition.
Explore more in our stem cell treatment patient diet guides, learn about stem cell treatment for cardiac conditions, or book an appointment for a personal plan.
Adjust the plan for your culture, any medical restrictions and your doctor’s advice.
Most people who eat a heart-healthy diet do not need many supplements. No supplement replaces heart medicines.
Some changes show up quickly. Blood pressure can start to improve in a few weeks with less salt, and cholesterol may improve in a few months. Long-term heart benefits build over years. Results differ from person to person.
Seek advice if you:
A Mediterranean or DASH-style diet with plenty of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, beans, nuts, fish and healthy oils, and little salt, saturated fat and sugar.
No. Diet cannot cure heart disease, but it helps control blood pressure, cholesterol and weight and supports medical treatment.
Limit salty foods, fried and processed food, trans fats, saturated fat, sweets, sugary drinks, refined grains and alcohol. Avoid smoking.
Ghee is high in saturated fat, so use it in small amounts. Prefer unsaturated oils for everyday cooking.
For most people, eggs in moderation are fine as part of a balanced diet. If you have high cholesterol or diabetes, ask your doctor how many are right for you.
Moderate amounts are fine for most people. Ask your doctor if you have an irregular heartbeat or high blood pressure.
It depends on your condition. Most people need normal fluids, but people with heart failure may have a limit, so follow your doctor’s advice.
Yes. A balanced diet supports overall health and recovery but does not replace medical care. Follow your doctor’s instructions.
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Medical disclaimer: This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Heart disease is a serious medical condition, and no diet or treatment can promise a cure. Results vary between people. If you have chest pain, severe breathlessness or fainting, seek emergency care immediately. Please consult a qualified doctor or dietitian before changing your diet, starting supplements or beginning treatment.
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