HEALTHY HEART DIET
Definition
A healthy heart diet is an eating plan designed to keep blood cholesterol low and prevent the risk of heart disease. This is usually achieved by eating foods that are low in saturated fat, total fat, cholesterol, and sodium. Some diets help people lower their cholesterol levels.
Description
Healthy heart diets share fundamental elements about how to prevent heart disease. The process starts with an understanding of why some foods should be avoided and others are beneficial to the heart. The first step is for the person to be aware of how food affects heart health.
An internal delivery system
The heart is a muscle, and the body’s muscles require a steady supply of oxygen and nutrients. This supply is brought to the heart by blood in the coronary arteries. Healthy heart diets are designed to keep the coronary arteries open for the delivery of oxygen and nutrients. When the arteries become narrow or clogged, the heart will not receive enough blood. This blockage causes coronary heart diseases. If the heart doesn’t receive enough of the blood containing oxygen, the person feels a chest pain, which is known as angina. If the coronary artery is totally blocked off and no blood reaches the heart, the person experiences a heart attack.
The narrowing or clogging of the arteries is designated as atherosclerosis when the blockage is caused by deposits of cholesterol and fat. Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance that is similar to fats (lipids). Cholesterol occurs naturally and is found throughout the body in the bloodstream and cells.
