Cardiac/Heart-Healthy Diet

A heart-healthy diet is a pattern of choices, not a single “cardiac” food or a rigid menu. Its purpose is to reduce modifiable cardiovascular risk by making lower-sodium, lower-saturated-fat, lower-free-sugar choices routine. Sodium is the priority when blood pressure or fluid retention is part of the clinical picture. A high-sodium intake can make blood pressure harder to control; reducing sodium supports lower blood pressure and lower cardiovascular risk. Saturated fat is another important target because replacing foods high in saturated fat with unsaturated-fat sources supports a healthier cardiovascular eating pattern. The pattern should centre on vegetables, fruits, whole-grain foods, legumes, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish. These choices make the diet more than a list of restrictions: they provide practical foods to add while less-healthy choices are reduced. Water is the preferred beverage, and sugar-sweetened beverages should be limited or avoided. Dietary advice supports cardiovascular treatment; it does not replace prescribed antihypertensives, lipid-lowering therapy, diabetes management, or urgent assessment of new symptoms.