05/01/2026
❤️ Heart Disease Prevention: Role of Nutrition
🔑 Why Nutrition Matters
What you eat directly affects:
Cholesterol levels
Blood pressure
Body weight
Blood sugar
Inflammation in the body
A heart-healthy diet helps keep arteries clear, improves circulation, and lowers the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
🥗 Foods that Protect the Heart
✔️ Eat More Of:
1️⃣ Fruits & Vegetables
Rich in fibre, antioxidants, vitamins.
Aim: 5–7 servings daily.
2️⃣ Whole Grains
Oats, brown rice, quinoa, whole-wheat chapati — help control cholesterol.
3️⃣ Healthy Fats
Olive oil, nuts, seeds, avocados — reduce “bad” LDL cholesterol.
4️⃣ Lean Proteins
Fish (especially oily fish like salmon), beans, lentils, tofu, skinless poultry.
5️⃣ High-Fibre Foods
Flaxseed, chia seeds, legumes — support gut and heart health.
6️⃣ Low-fat Dairy
Curd, milk, paneer in moderation.
❌ Foods to Limit or Avoid
🚫 Saturated & Trans Fats
Fried foods, bakery products, packaged snacks, margarine.
🚫 Excess Salt
Pickles, papads, processed foods — salt raises blood pressure.
🚫 Added Sugars
Sweets, dessert drinks, packaged juices — increase diabetes risk.
🚫 Red & Processed Meat
Sausages, bacon, processed kebabs — linked to heart disease.
🚫 Alcohol (limit)
Excess intake damages heart and liver.
🥄 Practical Nutrition Tips
Cook with less oil (prefer olive/mustard/groundnut in moderation).
Choose grilled/steamed instead of fried.
Read labels: avoid foods with hydrogenated oils.
Add handful of nuts (unsalted) 4–5 times a week.
Include omega-3 rich foods: flaxseed, walnuts, fish.
Keep portion sizes controlled.
Drink enough water and avoid sugary drinks.
⚖️ Weight, Blood Sugar & Blood Pressure
A balanced diet helps:
maintain healthy weight
control diabetes
reduce cholesterol build-up
keep blood pressure in range
All of these dramatically reduce heart-disease risk.
🏃 Lifestyle + Nutrition Work Together
For the best protection:
30–45 minutes of brisk activity, 5 days/week
Quit smoking
Manage stress and sleep 7–8 hours
Regular health check-ups (lipids, BP, sugar)
🩺 Summary
Nutrition plays a central role in preventing and managing heart disease.
A diet rich in whole, natural foods — combined with an active lifestyle — keeps your arteries healthy and your heart strong.
https://diet4uwellness.com