Angina is a medical condition associated with left side chest pain felt as tightness, heaviness or fullness. It results from coronary artery disease whereby the inner walls of the arteries get heavy deposits of fatty materials known as plaques. This narrows the arteries, resulting in restricted flow of blood to the heart.
Thus the cardiac muscles fail to receive adequate oxygen for proper functioning. Maintaining a healthy diet coupled with a dynamic lifestyle is one of the most effective keys to a healthy heart. The following dietary recommendations should be incorporated to ensure proper cardiac functioning:
- Incorporate More Fruits & Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are low in fats and calories, thus being cardiac friendly. Instead, they contain fiber and essential nutrients required for healthy living. Just two to three servings per day can ensure the recommended intake of the required vitamins and minerals.
- Avoid Fatty Items
When going for fats, avoid saturated fats, trans fat, and cholesterol. Butter is an example of saturated fat which should be kept under check to avoid any cardiac issue. Steak lovers should be aware of its higher fat content as compared to fish or poultry. 170g per day is the clinically prescribed number that one should ideally follow. To ensure reduced fat intake, you can:
- Cut off the extra fat.
- Remove the skin and the associated fat.
- Bake, grill or roast instead of frying.
- It is recommended to limit the fat intake at 3 tablespoons per day.
- Eat Foods Low In Sodium
Excess sodium intake is the primary reason behind high blood pressure. Try to reduce the sodium content by;
- Lowering salt use while cooking.
- Checking the package for sodium level. The processed items contain salt as added flavors.
- Replacing sodium-rich snacks with healthy fruits and vegetables.
- Avoiding restaurant foods and going for homemade items, so that the salt content remains regulated.
- Get The Right Kind Of Carb
While carbohydrates are essential parts of our everyday diet, it is important to restrict its intake. Items like brown rice, quinoa, oatmeal, and sweet potatoes help regulate the blood sugar levels as well as providing essential fiber at the same time.
- Ensure Adequate Hydration
Hydration plays a huge role in regulating appetite. Excess appetite leads to over-eating, which in turn is often responsible for high calorie and fat intake. Drinking 1 liter of water daily keeps this unhealthy appetite at check.
- Include Folic Acid In Your Diet
Folic acid helps in reducing homocysteine levels. High homocysteine level is responsible for various cardiovascular diseases. Incorporate folate-rich foods like fortified cereals, orange juice, spinach, asparagus, lentils, garbanzo beans, etc.
- Include More Fiber In Your Diet
Fiber is very helpful in body weight and cholesterol regulation. Whole grains, oats, and legumes such as peas, whole grains, lentils, etc. are rich sources of fiber that not only regulate total cholesterol, but also help to reduce LDL cholesterol responsible for damaging blood vessels.
Final thoughts
Angina is not a disease in itself, but an indication of deteriorating cardiac health, severe conditions of which can lead to heart attack. Thus people must take preventive measures to avoid cardiac complications. And there is no better way than maintaining a healthy diet. Out of the many methods, it is the most natural procedure to keep angina at bay.
Source:
https://www.sharecare.com/health/angina/how-healthy-diet-control-angina
https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/guide/heart-disease-eat-right