Heart Healthy Choices for Cardiovascular Health

Everyone knows that health-conscious meal planning can be difficult, especially when eating out. That’s why Heart and Cardiovascular Services help to identify heart healthy menu items to provide you a healthful variety of food choices when dining. Professional dietitians at Georgia Regents Medical Center can help assess menu items to recommend heart healthy options. To meet our heart healthy standards, items should have no more than 20 grams total fat and no more than 10 grams of saturated fat. So when you choose a heart healthy menu item, you can rest assured that you are making a better choice for your heart, health and body. Consult your physician or nutritionist for specific nutritional needs.

Why Eat a Heart Healthy Diet?

Eating right has tremendous benefits, from helping to keep your body trim to giving you more energy. But research has also shown that enjoying a healthful diet considerably decreases your risk of dying from heart disease, stroke and cancer. By incorporating fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products in your diet, you can decrease your risk by as much as 30 percent.

At first, changing your diet may seem overwhelming. But by making small, manageable changes now, you can make big changes in the long run. Start by substituting healthful choices for foods with less nutritional value. And when dining out, try to follow healthy choice guidelines. You can still enjoy a nice meal at your favorite restaurant while making important changes in your diet that will make a difference for your health.