The atherosclerosis diet is similar to those recommended for other conditions associated with heart disease (eg hyperlipidemia and hypertension. The aim is to adopt a healthy diet which will prevent further development of coronary heart disease.
The diet:
- Is similar to a Mediterranean-style diet
- Includes large amounts of fresh fruits (2 servings per day) and vegetables (5 servings per day)
- Limits the intake of meat, particularly red meat (1 serving per day)
- Increases consumption of grains and cereals (4-9 servings per day)
- Includes non-fat or low-fat milk and dairy products (2 servings per day)
- Recommends limiting alcohol intake (a maximum of 2 standard drinks for men and 1 for women per day).
The diet excludes:
- Foods high in cholesterol – offal meats, eggs, cream, shell fish etc.
- Fatty take-away foods, fried foods, cakes, biscuits, pastries and chocolate
- Frying foods or using breadcrumbs
Try to make the following changes to your diet:
- Include omega-3 fatty acids in your diet (eg. fish, canola oil)
- Reduce total fat by only choosing lean meats and always cut visible forms of fat away
- Reduce the total fat in your diet, particularly saturated fat
- Limit the amount of salt in your daily diet
- Select items with the Heart Foundation tick, which suggests the product is good for promoting a healthy heart.
Sample daily diet
Breakfast
- 1 glass of freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1 bowl of porridge with honey and banana
- 1 slice of wholemeal toast topped with tomato
Snack
- 1 tub of low-fat yoghurt
- 1 cup of tea or coffee
- 1 slice of fruit bread with thin spread of jam
Lunch
- Tuna salad
- 1 wholemeal roll
Snack
- 2 slices of wholemeal toast with low-fat cheese melted on top
- 1 cup of tea or coffee
Dinner
- 2 grilled chicken shashlicks with capsicum and onions served on a bed of couscous
- 1 Greek salad
- 1 glass of red wine or dark grape juice
Recipe
Tuna salad
- 1 cup of lettuce leaves
- 1 can of tuna (drained and flaked)
- 2 boiled potatoes (skins on)
- 1 large tomato cut into wedges
- ½ cup of Kalamata olives
- 1 cup of green beans
- 1 sprig of fresh parsley
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
Place lettuce in salad bowl and add rest of ingredients. Mix all ingredients together and add olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
Total Nutrients (100 g):
- Energy: 415 kJ / 99 cals
- Protein: 4.2 g
- Total Fat 5.6 g
- Monounsaturated Fat : 3.9 g
- Saturated Fat : 0.9 g
- Cholesterol : 5. 9 mg
- Sodium : 123 mg
Organisations & support groups
The Heart Foundation has excellent cholesterol diet tips at : https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/healthy-eating/food-and-nutrition
Inverell Pharmacy – your locally owned and operated pharmacy with 5 Pharmacists to Assist and Advise You.