What are the basic guidelines to a heart-healthy diet?
Formerly named Step 1 and Step 2 diets, the revised guidelines focus on the need to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight through healthy food choices and dietary lifestyle practices. For higher-risk individuals, such as those with diabetes, cardiovascular disease or lipid disorders for example, they recommend following diet which is a more individualized approach involving medical nutrition therapy. The TLC diet replaces the former Step 2 recommendations. To achieve and maintain a heart-healthy eating pattern, the following guidelines are recommended: Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables. Choose five or more servings of whole fruits and vegetables – especially dark green, orange or yellow – each day. Eat a variety of grain products, especially whole grains, choosing six or more servings per day. Include low-fat or fat-free dairy products, fish (at least two servings per week), legumes (beans), poultry (skin removed) and lean meats. Limit cholesterol-raising fats such as saturat
