For patients with cardiovascular disease, it is important to "know how to eat"! Please check out this post-holiday healthy diet guide

The lively atmosphere of the Spring Festival has gradually faded, but for cardiovascular patients, post-holiday diet conditioning is still a key part of protecting health. During the holidays, the temptation of delicious food may make people a little "insolent", but now it is time to get back on the "steering wheel" of healthy eating!

Zhang Ting, deputy chief physician of the Second Cardiovascular Department of Hunan Provincial Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine (Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine), presents you with this post-holiday diet guide exclusively for cardiovascular patients to help you quickly return to a healthy track.

Tip 1: A balanced diet, colorful fruits and vegetables are essential

Don't let fish and meat continue to dominate the table after the holidays. Leave enough space for vegetables and fruits. Brightly colored fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber, which can lower blood pressure and blood lipids and protect cardiovascular health. For example, yam, lotus seeds, white fungus and other refreshing ingredients can satisfy your appetite while taking care of your health.

Tip 2: White meat is preferred, red meat is appropriate

Although meat is delicious, cardiovascular patients need to be picky eaters. Fish, shrimp, shellfish, chicken, duck and poultry (white meat) should be included in the daily menu first. They stand out with their high quality protein content and low fat content, which can satisfy the body's desire for nutrition without clogging blood vessels. Red meat such as pork, beef and mutton should be eaten in moderation to avoid excessive intake of saturated fat, which increases the burden on the cardiovascular system.

Tip 3: Moisturizing foods help lower blood pressure

The climate after the festival is often still dry, so eating more moisturizing foods at this time is like a "rain" for the cardiovascular system. Winter melon, radish, tomato, eggplant and other vegetables, paired with kiwi, hawthorn, apple and other fruits, are rich in potassium ions, which can cleverly counteract the blood pressure fluctuations caused by sodium ions, and also have the effect of replenishing qi, promoting body fluid and moistening dryness.

Tip 4: Eat small meals frequently and avoid overeating

Frequent gatherings during the holidays may disrupt your normal eating rhythm, so adjust back to normal after the holidays. Follow the rule of eating small and frequent meals, and eat until you are 70% to 80% full at each meal, so that your stomach and intestines can work in an orderly manner and avoid overloading your cardiovascular system due to overeating. At the same time, always pay attention to your total calorie intake, and don't let excess calories turn into fat, which will bury hidden dangers for cardiovascular health.

Tip 5: Low salt, low fat, light food

After the festival, heavy-tasting foods should be decisively "cut off". Overly salty and greasy foods will increase blood viscosity, which will lead to high blood pressure. Cardiovascular patients need to control their daily salt intake within 5 grams, and patients with heart failure need to pay more attention. During cooking, you can use tools such as salt-limiting spoons to help control the amount of salt.

Avoid eating high-salt foods, such as pickled foods, salted fish, sauces, etc. You can use condiments such as lemon juice, vinegar, spices, etc. to increase the flavor of food and reduce dependence on salt. In addition, some processed foods and fast foods may contain high salt, such as instant noodles, biscuits, potato chips, etc., which should be avoided as much as possible.

When buying food, check the sodium content on the food label and choose low-salt or salt-free products. Use low-fat cooking methods such as steaming, boiling, baking, and stewing, and avoid high-fat cooking methods such as frying and stir-frying. Use healthy oils rich in unsaturated fatty acids such as olive oil and flaxseed oil for cooking.

Tip 6: Drink in moderation, don’t drink too much

The afterglow of the Spring Festival is still there, and there may be temptations of fine wine in social occasions, but cardiovascular patients should be careful! Excessive drinking may lead to high blood pressure, accelerated heart rate, and even induce cardiovascular disease. Drink in moderation and stop drinking after a few sips. If you really want to raise a toast, you might as well replace it with healthy drinks such as juice, green tea, chrysanthemum tea, hawthorn lotus leaf tea, etc., which not only retains the elegance of socializing, but also protects your health.

Tip 7: Continue taking medication and follow medical advice to stay healthy

For patients with cardiovascular diseases, do not stop taking medication or adjust the dosage at will after the holidays, as this is the key to controlling the disease. Take medication regularly, on time and in the right dosage. If you feel any discomfort or have any questions, seek help from a doctor in time to ensure that your condition is stable.

After the Spring Festival, cardiovascular patients are advised to use this diet guide as a guide, arrange their diet reasonably, combine it with moderate exercise, regular work and rest, and a peaceful attitude to protect their health in all aspects.

Hunan Medical Chat Special Author: Li Yajing, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine II, Hunan Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine (Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine)
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