How does diet help heart health?
A healthy diet is a balanced diet of protein (lean meat, fish, dairy products and vegetarian alternatives), unsaturated fat, carbohydrates (starchy foods such as bread and pasta), vegetables and fruit. It should be low in saturated fat, salt and sugar. Healthy eating can reduce your risk of heart disease by: • lowering blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease • increasing good HDL cholesterol that transports fat away from the arteries and back to the liver for processing • reducing levels of bad LDL cholesterol that can form fatty deposits in the arteries and contribute to heart disease • preventing blood clots that can lead to heart attack and stroke • keeping body weight in the healthy range. A healthy diet can also increase your chances of survival after a heart attack by relieving pressure on your heart and circulation.
