The Cardiac Rehab Diet

From a heart attack to any other type of cardiac event, these experiences can be very traumatizing. Not only can they do harm to your mental health, but they can also take their toll of your physical health and overall wellness. However, there are multiple ways to restore your health after these events and get back to the life you’re used to living. And with the help of CardioKinetics, crushing your health goals is made easier than ever. We are proud to offer health-management and dietary strategies for those who are recovering from these life-changing events. In this post, we’ll discuss these strategies more in-depth, including how CardioKinetics can change your life for the better.

Limit Fatty, Salty Foods

In order to prevent a cardiac event, such as a heart attack, having a healthy diet is key. While eating veggies and limiting sugar can help take a step in the right direction, another strategy involves cutting fatty, salty foods. Studies have proven that those who eat more salt and fat are more prone to heart attacks. Although you may be used to eating french fries, burgers, and other fatty, salty foods, they can be very detrimental to your heart health. If you’re looking to cut out these foods but don’t know where to start, try to progressively improve your diet. Start to slowly replace french fries with veggies and chips with fruit, and do your best to focus on eating whole grains. Some foods to stay away from are red meat, cheese, baked goods, and foods high in sodium. If you’re recovering from a cardiac event, the last thing your body needs is more fat and salt.

Choose Liquids Wisely

Another tactic to limit your chances of another cardiac event involves your liquid intake. Instead of soda, alcohol, and other unhealthy beverages, try to focus on drinking smoothies, water, and milk. However, it’s important to choose reduced-fat milk or another low-fat alternative. But the most beneficial drink to keep your heart happy is water. While it can be difficult to get into the habit of sipping on more H2O, doing so can greatly reduce your chances of another cardiac event. In addition, it’s best to limit caffeinated drinks as well, as these can lead to more heart complications. Alcohol is another type of drink to enjoy in moderation. While this can be a harder one to reduce, doing so can be extremely beneficial to your heart health and overall wellness. As your diet starts to improve, don’t forget to also focus on your beverages—especially water!

Balance Your Calories

While there are many factors that can lead to a heart attack or other cardiac event, those who don’t manage their calories effectively seem to be more prone to these serious health experiences. This usually involves an individual that doesn’t burn off enough calories that they take in. For example, if your diet consists of eating and drinking 2,000 calories per day, your goal should be to exercise enough to burn off 2,000 calories—or close to it. And if you just experienced a cardiac event, these daily goals are more important than ever. However, there are many factors that determine the recommended calorie intake for an individual, including your age, weight, gender, and level of physical activity. Therefore, it’s best to visit a doctor to determine the recommended daily calorie intake number for you. If you’re looking to burn more calories, try to exercise frequently and more intensely to start seeing faster results. Depending on your health, try to moderately exercise for at least 150 minutes every week.

Fish is Your Friend

While many of us like a good burger or steak, although very tasty, these foods are very high in fat—which is terrible for those recovering from a cardiac event. To still get protein, but without all the unnecessary fat, fish is a fantastic alternative—and lots of it! In fact, it’s best to incorporate fish into your diet for at least two meals per week. In addition, try to choose fish that contain omega-3 fatty acids. Some examples that include these acids are salmon, herring, and trout.

Restore Your Health with CardioKinetics

From lifestyle advice and health consultations to fitness assessments and physicals, CardioKinetics is here to make your cardiac event a distant memory! Located in Newark, DE, we’re a preventive health and wellness solutions provider that always keeps your health goals as our #1 priority. Our experienced health and wellness professionals take a holistic approach to healthcare, and we look for natural ways to improve your diet, exercise regimen, and overall lifestyle. From famous athletes to kids and elders, we are proud to help people of all ages. If you would like to speak with one of our health and wellness specialists, don’t hesitate to give us a call today!