Diet changes for people with
heart failure due to aortic stenosis:
- Control Dietary Salt. Lower dietary sodium by following a special hypertension diet (2-4 grams of sodium per day) that is low in salt. Foods that are high in salt should be avoided. Do not use table salt; consider a salt substitute with your doctor's consent. Season foods with dried herbs, garlic, onion, or lemons. See cardiac diet for more information.
- Fluid restriction. Ask your doctor what degree you need to restrict fluid consumption. Ask your doctor how many 8 ounce cups (240 ml) of water are you allowed to drink per day. Remember 2 cups (1 pint or about 500 ml) of retained fluid will equal one pound (2.2 kg) of fluid weight gain. See Congestive Heart Failure Diet.
- General Diet. Follow a proper cardiac diet, low in saturated fats and cholesterol. Most people with CHF taking a diuretic medication need to eat potassium rich foods, such as bananas, apricots, raisins, oranges, grapefruit, and peas. See Cardiac Diet for more information on limiting fats and cholesterol.
A healthy diet to for those with
heart disease should include:
- Limit total fat intake to no more than 20 to 25% of your total calories:
- Less than 7% of the day's total calories from saturated fat.
- Up to 10% of the day's total calories from polyunsaturated fat.
- Up to 20% of the day's total calories from monounsaturated fat
- Less than 200 milligrams of dietary cholesterol a day.
- Just enough calories to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. (You may want to ask your doctor or registered dietitian what is a reasonable calorie level for you.)
- Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables
- Eat more complex carbohydrates, such as starch and fiber. Whole grains and brown rice are good fiber sources. Other sources include:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Bran
- Barley
- Oats
- Legumes
- Limit iron intake: too much iron can increase atherosclerosis
- Eat more soy
- Avoid fad diets: eat a well-rounded diet instead
- Check with your doctor about supplementing your diet with B vitamins. Some people may benefit from these supplements.
