When a doctor prescribes the cardiac diet for a patient, it’s usually because he is at high risk for a heart attack, according to the Cardiac Diet website. It is also because the patient has had or is at high risk for cardiac disease (Coronary Artery Disease), atherosclerosis, arterio-sclerosis, hypertension.  The diet can benefit people who aren’t at risk, though, as a PREVENT-ATIVE measure against heart disease. Rules for choosing cardiac diet menu foods include options with reduced fat/choles-terol, a large amount of fruit and vegetables, low-sodium products and foods prepared in healthy ways, like broiling, roasting, baking or steaming.

A healthy diet in general and protective of cardiac diseases and other diseases is the following by AHA:

The American Heart Association, World Cancer Research Fund, and American Institute for Cancer Research recommends a diet that consists mostly of unprocessed plant foods, with emphasis a wide range of whole grains, legumes, and non-starchy vegetables and fruits. This healthy diet is replete with a wide range of various non-starchy vegetables and fruits, that provide different colors including red, green, yellow, white, purple, and orange. They note that tomato cooked with oil, allium vegetables like garlic, and cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, provide some protection against cancer. This healthy diet is low in energy density, which may protect against weight gain and associated diseases. Finally, limiting consumption of sugary drinks, limiting energy rich foods, including “fast foods” and red meat, and avoiding processed meats improves health and longevity. Overall, researchers and medical policy conclude that this healthy diet can reduce the risk of chronic disease and cancer.  Like we are always taught do things in mode- ration including foods you eat.  Eat more healthy versus unhealthy and highier odds you will have less disease but include in that diet routine exercise balanced with rest.  Think about it, you may like the results.

American Heart Association (AHA) Healthy Diet Guidelines:

At the heart of good nutrition are dietary guidelines.  All of our recipes are designed with these, and your health, in mind.  The American Heart Association’s Heart Healthy Diet Recommendations are based on a 2,000 calorie diet and include:

• Balance the number of calories you eat and physical activity to maintain a healthy body weight (this means not eating more calories than you need).

• Make your diet rich in fruits and vegetables. A typical adult should try for 9-10 servings (4.5 cups) of fruits and vegetables every day.

• Choose whole grains and high-fiber foods (Three 1-oz. servings per day). A diet rich in fiber can help manage your weight because fiber keeps you feeling fuller longer, so you eat less.

• Eat fish, especially oily fish like salmon or albacore tuna, twice a week to get omega-3 fatty acids.

• Limit saturated and trans fat and cholesterol by choosing lean meats, selecting fat-free (skim), 1 percent and low-fat dairy products and avoiding hydrogenated fats (margarine, shortening, cooking oils and the foods made from them).

  • A person needing 2,000 calories each day should consume less than 16 g saturated fat, less than 2 g trans fat and between 50 and 70 grams of total fat and limit cholesterol to no more that 300 mg each day.

• Limit the amount of added sugars you consume to no more than half of your daily discretionary calorie allowance. For most American women, this is no more than 100 calories per day and no more than 150 calories per day for men (or approximately 6 teaspoons/day for women and 9 teaspoons/day for men).

  • Limit sugar-sweetened beverages to no more than 450 calories (36 oz.) per week.

• Choose and prepare foods with little or no salt (sodium) to maintain a healthy blood pressure. Keep sodium intake to 1,500 mg per day or less.
  Try to eat four servings per week of nuts, seeds or legumes (beans).

  • Limit processed meat (such as sandwich meat, sausage and hot dogs) to fewer than two servings per week.

• If you choose to consume alcohol, do so in moderation. This means an average of one to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women.

• If you eat out, pay attention to portion size and the number of calories in your meal.