If you're a heart surgery patient, your doctor has probably explained that it's important for you to eat a healthy diet. Find out what kinds of things heart patients should include in their diet. Also, learn about balance calories with exercise and what questions to ask before you start exercising after surgery.
Instructions
1. Immediately after your heart surgery, ask your doctor and/or dietitian about what you can eat and how much you can eat. Be sure to follow their specifications for your post-surgery diet to the letter.
2. After you've returned to work and other normal activities, you'll need to make a total lifestyle change your top priority. Clean out your pantry and start from scratch. Pitch the salty, fatty and sugary snacks. If you have congestive heart failure, you'll want to pitch the alcohol, too. It can damage your heart muscle and increase the chances of an abnormal heartbeat.
3. Fill your pantry and refrigerator with the following heart-healthy foods: unprocessed foods with no labels (fresh vegetables, fruit), low-fat protein products (soy protein, low-fat peanut butter, dry beans), salt-free seasonings and herbs, low-sodium canned goods, non-fat or low fat dairy products, healthy fats (olive oil, fatty fish like salmon, nuts) and water. How are you feeling so far about your new heart surgery patient diet?
4. Prepare your meals by pan-searing in healthy fats, broiling, baking or slow roasting. Find out how many calories you need each day. Schedule an appointment with a registered dietitian to find out this important number.
5. Ask your dietitian about incorporating a multivitamin into your post-heart surgery diet. Vitamin C is especially important for you. Heart patients that get the flu are at greater risk of heart attack.
