Heart Failure Diet

Dietary changes for people with congestive heart failure include:

• Control dietary salt: Lower dietary sodium by following a special diet that is low in salt. All heart failure patients should limit salt intake to 1,000-1,500 mg of sodium per day. 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.
• 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 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.
• Heart healthy diet: Follow a proper heart diet, which is low in saturated fats and cholesterol. Most people with heart failure taking a diuretic medication need to eat potassium rich foods.
• Potassium rich foods include bananas, apricots, raisins, oranges, grapefruit, and peas.
• Magnesium: Eat foods rich in magnesium. Heart failure drugs can deplete the body's stores of magnesium. This has been correlated with more severe symptoms and a higher death rate.
• Foods high in magnesium include wheat germ, soybeans, oatmeal, nuts, seeds, low-fat diary items, and seafood.

• Control calories:
• Eat just enough calories to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
• Eat quality fats:
• Use virgin olive oil and other unsaturated, low-cholesterol fats.
• Eat the right amount of fats, carbohydrates and protein:
• Limit your fat intake to 20 or 30 percent, but don't substitute simple carbohydrates for fat.
• 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
• Avoid fad diets:
• Eat a well-rounded diet instead.
• Eat small, frequent meals.
• Avoid large and heavy meals.
• Limit cholesterol in diet:
• To less than 200 milligrams a day.
• Limit iron intake:
• Too much iron can increase atherosclerosis.
• Eat enough dietary fiber:
• Whole grains are best.
• Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables
• Reduce salt in your diet
• Optimal: no more than 1,500 milligrams per day.
• Check with your doctor about supplementing your diet with B vitamins:
• Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
• Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
• Vitamin B3 (niacin)
• Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid)
• Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
• Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)

Last Updated: Dec 8, 2010 References
Authors: Stephen J. Schueler, MD; John H. Beckett, MD; D. Scott Gettings, MD
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