Cardiac Rehabilitation

Dietary Guidelines for Cardiac Rehabilitation

Dietary Guidelines

Achieve an overall healthy eating pattern

Choose a balanced diet with food from all major food groups, emphasizing fruits, vegetables and grains
Consume a variety of fruits, vegetables and grains
At least 5 daily servings of fruits and vegetables
At least 6 daily servings of grain products, including whole grains
Include fat-free and low-fat dairy products, fish, legumes, poultry and lean meats
Eat at least 2 servings of fish per week

Achieve a Healthy Body Weight

Limit foods that are high in calories and/or low in nutritional quality, including those with a high amount of added sugar
Maintain a level of physical activity that achieves fitness and balances energy
Expenditure with caloric intake
Expenditure should exceed intake for weight reduction

Achieve a Desirable Cholesterol Level

Limit foods with a high content of saturated fat and cholesterol
Substitute with grains and unsaturated fat from vegetables, fish, legumes and nuts
Limit cholesterol to 300 mg a day for the general population, and 200 mg a day for those with heart disease or it's risk factors

Limit trans fatty acids

Trans fatty acids are found in foods containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils such as packaged cookies, crackers, and other baked goods as well as commercially prepared fried foods and some margarines

Achieve a Desirable Blood Pressure

Limit salt intake to less than 6 grams (2,400 mg sodium) per day – slightly more than 1 teaspoon a day
If you drink, limit alcohol to no more than 1 drink per day

Step I and Step II Diets

Programs developed to treat high cholesterol and to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease which causes heart attacks
Helps patients set goals for reducing cholesterol and promote good nutrition

Nutrient	Step I	Step II
Total Fat	30% or less	30% or less
Saturated	7-10%	less than 10%
Polyunsaturated	Up to 10%	Up to 10%
Monounsaturated	Up to 15%	Up to 15%
Carbohydrates	55% or more	55% or more
Protein	15%	15%
Cholesterol	less than 300 mg per day	less than 200 mg per day
Total Calories	to achieve and maintain desired weight	to achieve and maintain desired weight

Basic Food Groups
Lean meat, poultry and fish	No more than 6 oz per day; fish 2 times per week
Vegetables and fruit	5 or more per day
Fat-free skim milk and low-fat dairy products	2-4 per day
Eggs	Eggs have 213 mg of cholesterol per yolk; limit 300mg per day; egg whites not limited
Breads, cereals, pasta and starchy vegetables	6 or more per day

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Last Reviewed: Apr 01, 2006