Eating Better With The Heart Disease Diet

The heart is one of the most important organs in the body. It is responsible for the distribution of blood to the different parts of the body and it is where oxygenation takes place. And although the heart has actually nothing to do with your emotions, it is still the symbol of what you currently feel, especially love. Whenever love is mentioned, it is always correlated to the heart even if the seat of emotions is the brain, in the limbic system.

To take care of your heart, you need to eat a healthy diet and have regular exercise. These two activities, when you do them religiously, will give you a healthy heart, and a longer life without the trouble of going through heart attacks and other heart disorders. When you do have one of these however, then it is time for you to start on a heart disease diet. Although changing your eating habits is difficult, having a goal would make it easier.

A diet like this would basically start with cholesterol and fat limits. These two are the main causative factors of heart diseases, since when accumulated, they will block the arteries of the heart. There are good and bad cholesterol, and what you should eliminate are the trans fats. These are mostly found in butter, margarine, and cooking oil specifically shortening. Instead of using these ones, go for olive oil, low fat yogurt and vegetable oils. Instead of eating sauted or fried foods, choose to eat steamed and boiled ones. Eat also lean meats, and trim off the fats when there are any. These simple steps will eliminate a lot of fats and cholesterol in your diet.

The next step that you will need to do is to choose protein sources that have low fat component. When you drink milk, choose the ones that have lower fat such as skim milk. Instead of eating meat all the time, have fish. Some types of fish are heart healthy such as salmon, mackerel and herring. These contain omega-3 fatty acids which lower the triglycerides of the blood fats. Also, legumes are good sources of protein that do not have high fat content.

Fruits and vegetables are indeed important. These are the best sources of vitamins and minerals instead of taking those dietary supplements. These have low calorie contents and are rich in dietary fiber. These also have nutrients that help in preventing heart diseases. Instead of having a junk food for your snacks, have a fruit to help keep your heart healthy. Sodium is one of the culprits in a heart disorder. It makes the blood pressure go up, and is a big risk factor in cardiovascular disorders. Eating fruits and vegetables will help you control your sodium intake.

Having a heart disease diet is not easy if you are used to eating sweets, meat and foods that have a lot of sodium and fat content. While you are starting, you may already be thinking about quitting on this heart disease diet. But keep in mind that when you eat like this, you are not just saving your heart, but your life as well.