Preventing Heart Attack Through Diet

Healthy eating is a major piece in the puzzle of preventing heart attack.

How Much To Eat

Talk with your doctor about how many calories you should be taking in a day. A total daily calorie count should take into account how much you exercise daily. Generally speaking, a larger person is going to need more calories than a smaller person, while someone who spends their day walking dogs or digging ditches is going to need more than someone who spends all day at a desk or watching TV.

What To Eat

Once you know how many calories you should eat, don't waste them. If your daily calorie goal is 1800, and you spend 1700 of them on ice cream, then you are missing the point. Your daily meals should be a nice mix of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats, with sugary or fatty treats as an occasional highlight only.

Limit Fat and Cholesterol

Cutting back on foods that are high in fat and cholesterol can help lower the LDL or "bad" cholesterol in your blood. High-fat, high-cholesterol foods also contribute to clogged arteries, atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (CAD) - which in turn can lead to heart attacks.

Choose Meat Carefully

* Eat fish instead of meat or poultry when possible
* Prepare meat and poultry without skin or added fat.
* Remove all visible fat from meat and poultry before cooking it.
* White meat is lower in fat than dark meat
* Grill or bake instead of frying.

Got Milk?

If you can't live without cheese or milk, change to low-fat, skim or 2-percent products. Women at risk for osteoperosis should talk to their doctors about how to reduce dairy intake without limiting much-needed calcium.

Trans Fats

Trans fats are found most often in margarine, shortening and baked goods. Look for partially hydrogenated or saturated fats in the ingredient list, and stay away from them.

You Are What You Drink

Drinking a can of soda can be the same, nutritionally-speaking, as eating a candy bar. Look for added or hidden sugars in beverages and avoid them. Examples of hidden sugars include:

* sucrose
* glucose
* fructose
* maltose
* dextrose
* corn syrup
* concentrated fruit juice
* honey.

Salt in the Wound

If you have problems controlling your blood pressure, your doctor may also recommend a low-sodium diet.

* Buy products labeled low- or reduced-sodium
* Use herbs and spices instead of salt while cooking.
* Avoid condiments like soy sauce, steak sauce, olives and pickles, which are all high in sodium.

Talk to your doctor about other ways you can prevent heart attack through diet.