Heart diseases are the most common health ailment affecting many lives inclusive of all age group. The improvement in the nutritional standard and the influx of commercially viable preserved foods or ready-to-packs have scaled down heavily on the health of an average person. So, it is of paramount importance to watch what we gulp down from the heart’s perspective.

Blood cholesterol determines the possibility of developing coronary artery disease due to its ability to build up plaques in the arteries causing, atherosclerosis. And, the level of cholesterol in the blood is directly controlled by the consumption of saturated and Trans fats in our diet. As per the guidelines lay down by the American Heart Association, dietary recommendation of saturated fat should be 7% less than the total calories intake and 1% less for Trans fat.

The ideal consumption can be attained by limitation on solid fats- butter, margarine and minimization on intake of fatty meats. A nutritious and pro-heart meal will be one that are steamed or cooked with less or no fats. So, line your kitchen cabinet with bottles of olive oil or canola oil which is monounsaturated and soft on the blood cholesterol. Salty foods are best to be avoided because salt can increase the blood pressure.  So, the next time you are out shopping for groceries, check the labels of your favorite snacks or munchies to look out for Trans fat.

Cardiologists have advised heart patients on replacing their taste buds for high protein meat with that of fish which is a good alternative to high-fat meats. Be choosy on your dairy protein diets and go with skim milk than the full-fat milk. Yogurt and cheese are heart friendly and so does the egg white among the proteins. Vegetables and fruits are fibrous and rich source of minerals.