The Coronary Artery Disease Diet aims to control the consumption of food increasing bad cholesterol in the CAD patient daily. Nutritionists can balance the levels of good cholesterol (HDL) and bad cholesterol (LDL) in the body by dietary changes that will improve the overall health of the patient.
Coronary Artery Disease Overview
The coronary arteries supply blood to the heart muscle ensuring that the heart works efficiently. Coronary artery disease can cause these narrow arteries to get blocked with a fatty material. This is called as Coronary artery disease. Due to the blockages, the heart muscles cannot get the right amount of oxygen. This could result in high blood pressure, angina and even a heart attack.
Dietary Suggestions for the Coronary Artery Disease Diet
- Fresh fruits and vegetables are low in cholesterol and are recommended for patients with coronary artery disease. Nutritionists recommend at least five servings of fresh fruits and vegetables daily for the best effects.
- Leafy greens and beans are considered to be ideal as they are high in fiber and nutrition while being low in fat and cholesterol content. Chick peas, kidney beans and legumes are all considered to be good for lowering bad cholesterol levels.
- Soy based products like soy milk, and tofu are recommended as they lower bad cholesterol levels while increasing the levels of good cholesterol
- Garlic is also a very valuable addition to the Coronary Artery Disease Diet. A single clove of garlic per day is ideal but capsules of dried fresh garlic are recommended too.
- Monounsaturated fats in the form of vegetable oils and nuts are ideal to control blood cholesterol levels in the Coronary Artery Disease diet.
Important Note for the Coronary Artery Disease Diet
It is very essential to control blood cholesterol levels with medication in coronary artery disease. Diet control, exercise and medication work together to ensure a better quality of life for the CAD patient.
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