Lean meats and meat alternatives like beans
Fish, vegetables, beans, and nuts
low-fat dairy products
Polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fats,
like canola and olive oils, to replace saturated fats, such as butter
Read food labels and limit the amount of trans fat
you eat. Trans fat raises the levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol and also lowers
high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or "good") cholesterol in the blood. Trans fat
is found in many processed foods made with shortening or with partially
hydrogenated or hydrogenated vegetable oils. These foods include cookies,
crackers, chips, and many snack foods.
Limit sodium. Most people get far more sodium than they need. Try to limit how much sodium (salt) you eat. For good health, less is best. This is especially important for people who are at risk for or already have high blood pressure. If you are African-American, have diabetes or chronic kidney disease, or are older than age 50, try to limit the amount of salt you eat to less than 1,500 mg a day. If none of those things describe you, try to limit sodium to 2,300 mg a day.2
Limit alcohol intake to 2 drinks a day
for men and 1 drink a day for women.
Limit drinks and foods with
When you are eating away from home, try to follow
these heart-healthy guidelines.
Special considerations include the following:
Older people. As you age,
you do not usually need to eat as many calories. Although the general dietary
guidelines remain the same, older people should be careful to choose foods rich
in nutrients to meet their nutritional needs without too many
over the age of 2 can follow the AHA diet and lifestyle recommendations and
maintain normal growth while lowering their risk of heart disease in the
People with kidney disease.
Cardiovascular disease can develop in people who lose normal function of their
kidneys. If you have kidney disease, you may need to limit some nutrients
including protein and sodium. For more information, see the topic Chronic