The cardiologist spoke about proper nutrition for heart health

For heart health, the diet should be based on simple foods: vegetables, fruits, whole grains, boiled or baked meat and fish. At the same time, semi-finished products, sausages and confectionery products containing hidden fats, salt, sugar and trans fats should be avoided. The principles of nutrition that help maintain the health of the cardiovascular system were named to Izvestia on August 24 by Evgeny Kokin, PhD, cardiologist at JSC "Medicine" (Academician Roitberg Clinic).

The cardiologist recommends paying special attention to the ratio of fats — no more than 1 part saturated to 10 parts unsaturated, and completely eliminate trans fats if possible. Salt should be limited to 5 grams per day, especially for hypertension. It is also important to control the caloric intake, since excess weight is a direct risk factor for heart attack.

"The diet should include foods rich in magnesium and potassium: bananas, greens, nuts, potatoes and legumes. These trace elements support the heart rhythm and reduce the risk of arrhythmias. Especially useful are fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines) 2-3 times a week, lean meat 1-2 times a week, vegetables 4-5 servings a day, fruits and berries 1-2 servings a day, as well as vegetable oils in moderation," the doctor said.

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According to him, it is better to exclude fast food, snacks, confectionery, fatty meat products, sauces, carbonated drinks, alcohol and canned food from the diet. If you have heart disease, your doctor recommends special diets: a DASH diet to reduce blood pressure, a Mediterranean diet, a TLC diet, or a vegetarian diet with careful control of the nutrient balance.

Kokin emphasized that nutrition for cardiovascular diseases should be selected individually, taking into account the patient's tests, weight and lifestyle.

"Nutrition is not a prohibition, but a tool. It can become a shield for the heart — or a slow destroyer if we don't pay attention to what's on our plate," the cardiologist concluded.

On August 21, Kokin told Izvestia that stress has a devastating effect on the cardiovascular system, even if its effects are not obvious at first glance. When we encounter nervous situations, our body reacts to them with an adrenaline rush, which can trigger a blood pressure spike, cardiac arrhythmia, and inflammatory processes in the blood vessels.

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