{"id":8474,"date":"2025-10-13T13:54:46","date_gmt":"2025-10-13T13:54:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/review\/hmn-how-to-start-and-stick-to-a-heart-healthy-diet-in-2025\/"},"modified":"2025-10-13T13:54:46","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T13:54:46","slug":"hmn-how-to-start-and-stick-to-a-heart-healthy-diet-in-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/review\/hmn-how-to-start-and-stick-to-a-heart-healthy-diet-in-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"HMN: How to start (and stick to) a heart healthy diet in 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<br \/>Do you know:  How to start (and stick to) a heart healthy diet in 2025<\/p>\n<div id=\"main-content\">\n<div id=\"post-intro\">\n<div id=\"takeaways\">\n<h2>Key takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p>Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, with high blood pressure and high cholesterol as major risk factors.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>The Mediterranean and DASH diets are beneficial for heart health.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Heart-healthy foods include antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, olive oil, whole grains, and omega-3 rich fish.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"table-of-contents\">\n<div class=\"anchorLinks\">\n<div class=\"mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"dropdownLists\">\n<div tabindex=\"0\" class=\"dropdownBtn\"><span class=\"listsIcon\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/singlecare\/images\/union.svg\" width=\"14\" height=\"20\"\/><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<label><\/label><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"downArrow\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/singlecare\/images\/dropDownArrow.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\"\/><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). About <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">697,000<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Americans died of heart disease in 2020\u2013that\u2019s 1 in 5 deaths overall, reports the CDC. Why should those statistics\u2014or a heart-healthy diet matter to you?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may be at greater risk than you think. About <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">47%<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of all adults in the U.S., or 116 million people, have high blood pressure. High blood pressure puts you at increased risk for heart disease and stroke. High cholesterol also hurts the heart. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Given how prevalent heart disease is<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, no one can afford to ignore cardiovascular health.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHeart health is critically important for all of us to take into account,\u201d says cardiologist Nicole Harkin, MD, founder of<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whole Heart Cardiology<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. One of the best ways to regain control is to plan what you put in your refrigerator, pantry, and body every day. You can decrease your risk of heart disease by making positive changes to your eating patterns. Consider making one heart-healthy change a month, such as only eating dessert on weekends or adopting Meatless Mondays.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-is-considered-a-heart-healthy-diet\">What is considered a heart-healthy diet?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In general, a heart-healthy diet is one that is heavy on fruit, vegetables, and whole grains\u2014and light on red meat and unhealthy fats including saturated fats and trans fats. Trans fats, which are often found in foods containing partially hydrogenated oils, raise your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, also known as your bad cholesterol, and decrease your HDL, or good, cholesterol.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYou\u2019ve heard it before, but it works,\u201d says John P. Cooke, MD, Ph.D., professor of cardiovascular science at Houston Methodist Hospital and science advisory board member for<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humann.com\/science-overview\/leadership\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HumanN<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here\u2019s a bonus: Eating a heart-healthy diet may also help you maintain a healthy weight. That, in turn, may help you<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.niddk.nih.gov\/health-information\/weight-management\/health-risks-overweight\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">further reduce your risk of developing heart disease<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as obesity is a risk factor for diabetes, hypertension, and heart problems.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b> <\/b><b>The best diet for weight loss<\/b><b> | <\/b><b>4 triglyceride treatment options<\/b><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"the-best-heart-diets-to-try\">The best heart diets to try<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Two of the best diets you can try are the Mediterranean diet and the DASH diet. Here\u2019s what you need to know about both of them.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"mediterranean-diet\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mediterranean diet<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Mediterranean eating plan offers numerous health benefits, meeting the AHA\u2019s recommendations for heart-healthy eating and<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">even helping to reverse prediabetes<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. In fact, a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nejm.org\/doi\/full\/10.1056\/nejmoa1200303\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New England Journal of Medicine<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> noted that the Mediterranean diet helped people at high risk for heart disease \u201creduce the incidence of major cardiovascular events.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you follow this eating plan, you concentrate on eating nutrient-rich, plant-based foods, including fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, and nuts and seeds. It also recommends using olive oil instead of butter or margarine. Use\u00a0 low to moderate amounts of lean meat like fish and skinless chicken, and low-fat or fat-free dairy products (instead of their full-fat counterparts).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"dash-diet\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DASH diet<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The AHA also gives a thumbs up to the<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhlbi.nih.gov\/health-topics\/dash-eating-plan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DASH diet<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. This plan also emphasizes the fruits, veggies, and whole grains, with smaller amounts of low-fat and fat-free dairy, fish, poultry, nuts, and vegetable oils. You also want to cut back on the saturated and trans fats. According to the AHA, this diet allows more meat and low-fat dairy than the Mediterranean diet generally does. Another hallmark of this diet is its <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">approach toward salt<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Aim to keep your daily sodium intake below 2300 mg\u2014and ideally less than 1500 mg.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The DASH diet emphasizes foods that contain dietary nitrates, says Dr. Cooke. Research, such as this <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/25421976\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the journal <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hypertension<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">suggests that dietary nitrate may help lower blood pressure. How? Your body converts this substance into nitric oxide, which is a vasodilator. In other words, those foods help keep your blood vessels open, which helps the blood vessels of the heart feed the heart muscle itself.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Foods like beets, leafy green vegetables, citrus foods, and nuts and seeds are high in dietary nitrates that your body can convert to nitric oxide. \u201cKeeping your blood vessels healthy is also going to help you defeat infectious diseases,\u201d Dr. Cooke adds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"singlecare-dynamic-newsletter-wrapper sin-newsletter-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"heading\">Get our wellness newsletter<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"8-foods-to-include-in-a-heart-healthy-diet\">8 foods to include in a heart-healthy diet<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First, consider the foods that you want to eat more of. When you\u2019re selecting recipes, look for recipes that prioritize fruit, vegetables, and lean protein. To boost heart health, add these foods to your diet.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"1-antioxidant-rich-foods\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Antioxidant-rich foods<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cChoose foods that are rich in antioxidants, as they reduce inflammation in the body and can aid in preventing heart issues,\u201d says <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/foodlove.com\/about-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bansari Acharya, RDN<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a registered dietitian and nutritionist with foodlove.com. \u201cThe best foods with antioxidants include any type of berries, especially blueberries, green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, and avocados.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b> <\/b><b>What\u2019s the best diet for inflammation?<\/b><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"2-olive-oil\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Olive oil<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.heart.org\/en\/news\/2020\/03\/05\/olive-oil-may-lower-heart-disease-risk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Olive oil<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is an example of monounsaturated fat and has been shown to improve heart health, but experts also note that you\u2019re replacing other, less healthy oils and fats when you use olive oil, which is another benefit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"3-low-sodium-condiments-soups-and-snacks\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Low-sodium condiments, soups, and snacks<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Opt for low- or reduced-sodium versions of condiments and soup, which often contains more sodium than you might realize. According to the Cleveland Clinic, you can reduce the extra fluid around your heart and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/diseases\/17072-heart-failure-diet-low-sodium\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">lungs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by minimizing or reducing sodium in your diet. That means your heart doesn\u2019t have to work as hard to pump blood and it reduces your blood pressure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"4-quinoa\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Quinoa\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not only is quinoa filling, but <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/medlineplus.gov\/ency\/patientinstructions\/000731.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">it contains antioxidants and heart-healthy fats<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that can also help improve your good cholesterol levels.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"5-whole-grain-breads-cereals-and-pasta\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. Whole grain breads, cereals, and pasta\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whole grains, which are part of a heart-healthy diet, are a great <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.heart.org\/en\/healthy-living\/healthy-eating\/eat-smart\/nutrition-basics\/whole-grains-refined-grains-and-dietary-fiber\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">source of dietary fiber<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, according to the American Heart Association. The AHA recommends reading food labels carefully and choosing 51 percent whole grains versus refined grains. Examples of whole grain foods include whole wheat bread, brown rice, and rolled or steel cut oatmeal.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"6-low-fat-yogurt-milk-and-other-dairy-products\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6. Low-fat yogurt, milk, and other dairy products<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you replace full-fat dairy products in your diet with low-fat versions, you\u2019re making a swap that\u2019s better for your heart according to a study in the<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/ajcn\/article\/104\/5\/1209\/4564387\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">American Journal of Clinical Nutrition<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. That\u2019s because foods that are lower in saturated fat tend to be better for your cardiovascular system.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"7-walnuts\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7. Walnuts<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Walnuts contain high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial for your heart. In fact, according to the Mayo Clinic, one major benefit of omega-3 fatty acids is that they seem to reduce the likelihood of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hsph.harvard.edu\/news\/hsph-in-the-news\/mozaffarian-omega-3-arrhythmia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">irregular heart rhythms<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that can lead to heart attacks. Research also suggests that they improve <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0019483217300780\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">endothelial function<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, thus helping your arteries stay fully open and functioning correctly. Flaxseeds and soybeans are other examples of foods rich in omega-3s and polyunsaturated fat.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"8-fish-rich-in-omega-3s\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8. Fish rich in omega-3s<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Opt for fish that\u2019s high in those healthy <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/heart-disease\/in-depth\/omega-3\/art-20045614\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">omega-3 fatty acids<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which can decrease your triglyceride levels, decrease your risk of heart failure and stroke, and even slightly lower your blood pressure. You can choose from a wide variety of fish, including salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring, and cod.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can start with a few positive changes or additions to your diet so you don\u2019t get overwhelmed by trying to overhaul your whole diet at once. \u201cStarting small and making those small changes that are easily attainable are key,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wholeheartcardiology.com\/about\">Dr. Harkin<\/a> says.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, try introducing one vegetarian meal per week. It could be a new dish or a change to a favorite dish. For example, you could replace the red meat in your Tuesday night tacos with legumes like black beans or lentils, which are good sources of soluble fiber and plant-based protein. Another couple of tips that might help: Try to incorporate as many food groups into your meals as you can, and don\u2019t forget to watch your portion sizes. Aim for having half your plate filled with vegetables. Decrease the amount of food you take in. Fix your plate in the kitchen (as opposed to the dining room table) and then put leftovers in the fridge to make them less accessible.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"4-foods-to-avoid-in-a-heart-healthy-diet\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4 foods to avoid in a heart-healthy diet<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After you change to heart-healthy fare, consider the foods that you want to limit or avoid altogether. Foods that are high in saturated fat top the list, as they drive up your blood cholesterol levels, notably your LDL cholesterol. This includes a lot of foods that come from animal products, including many kinds of meat and full-fat dairy. Avoid or eat these foods sparingly.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"1-cured-and-processed-meats\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Cured and processed meats<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cured and processed meats\u2014like bacon, sausage, and salami\u2014tend to be high in saturated fat and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/healthbeat\/avoid-these-foods-for-a-healthier-heart\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sodium<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which can raise your blood pressure and cause your feet to swell.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"2-red-meat\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Red meat\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nih.gov\/news-events\/nih-research-matters\/eating-red-meat-daily-triples-heart-disease-related-chemical\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has long suggested that the more red meat you eat, the greater your chances of developing cardiovascular disease. As the Cleveland Clinic suggests, it may be better for your heart to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/health.clevelandclinic.org\/is-red-meat-bad-for-your-heart-or-not\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">go easy on the red meat<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, especially the high-saturated fat kinds, and opt for leaner sources of protein as much as possible instead.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"3-full-fat-dairy-products\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Full-fat dairy products<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Full-fat cheese, yogurt, and milk make this list of foods to avoid or limit. So does butter. It\u2019s not that you can never eat these foods again, but you want to be judicious about them and only eat small amounts occasionally.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"4-refined-sugars\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Refined sugars<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A diet heavy on foods that are high in refined sugars can result in higher levels of triglycerides and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/health.clevelandclinic.org\/sweet-tooth-spells-trouble-heart\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LDL cholesterol<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the \u201cbad\u201d cholesterol that can build up in the walls of your arteries. Refined sugars also seem to contribute to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/health.clevelandclinic.org\/is-sugar-bad-for-your-heart\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">inflammation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the body, which can stress your heart and blood vessels, according to the Mayo Clinic. And refined and added sugar appears in lots of foods, including usual suspects like cookies and cakes, but also in salad dressing and pasta sauces. And yes, the list also includes sugary beverages like soft drinks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re not already doing so, start reading nutrition facts labels when you\u2019re still at the grocery stores to find out how much saturated fat is in the food before you buy it. The AHA recommends limiting saturated fat consumption to about 5 percent or 6 percent of your total caloric intake. That works out to about 13 grams of saturated fat per day if you\u2019re sticking with a 2,000-calorie daily eating plan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But if you occasionally slip up or overindulge in something that\u2019s not quite so good for you, don\u2019t fret. You\u2019ll sometimes have departures from your heart-healthy eating pattern, and that\u2019s okay. As Dr. Cooke notes, everyone gets tempted from time to time. The important thing to do is to acknowledge it and move on. Give yourself some grace and don\u2019t dwell on any so-called mistakes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b> <\/b><b>What are carbohydrates?<\/b><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"other-ways-to-improve-heart-health\">Other ways to improve heart health<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If diet alone isn\u2019t improving your heart health, there are other options\u2014from lifestyle changes to medication.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"exercise\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Exercise<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to eating a heart-healthy diet, you should commit to regularly working out. \u201cEat more vegetables, eat more fish, and get exercise every day\u201430 minutes of exercise every day\u2014and you\u2019ll be healthier,\u201d Dr. Cooke says.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ideally, you want to incorporate <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hopkinsmedicine.org\/health\/wellness-and-prevention\/3-kinds-of-exercise-that-boost-heart-health\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">three different kinds of exercise<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> into your life:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aerobic exercise<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strength training<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Balance\/flexibility exercise<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most people think of aerobic exercise as the kind that benefits your heart. And true, walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, and other kinds of aerobic exercise improve your circulation and your heart\u2019s ability to pump blood effectively. But you should have a blend of all three kinds because they benefit your overall health, which ultimately is also good for your heart. Plus, you may find it easier to maintain a healthy weight if you\u2019re exercising regularly. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/medlineplus.gov\/ency\/patientinstructions\/000094.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And if you already have heart disease<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, exercise is even more vital. It can improve your health and help you feel better.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"lifestyle-changes\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lifestyle changes<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One crucial lifestyle change that you should make, if you haven\u2019t already: stop smoking. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/tobacco\/about\/cigarettes-and-cardiovascular-disease.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">smoking is a major cause of cardiovascular disease<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. And the risk goes up the longer and the more you smoke. Quitting isn\u2019t easy, but you can access <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/tobacco\/campaign\/tips\/quit-smoking\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">many resources<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to help you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.heart.org\/en\/health-topics\/heart-attack\/life-after-a-heart-attack\/lifestyle-changes-for-heart-attack-prevention\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">lifestyle changes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that the American Heart Association recommends for improving your heart health:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Limit your alcohol consumption (for women seven drinks or less per week and for men 14 drinks or less per week)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reduce your stress levels (try yoga or meditation to help)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Manage your blood sugar levels if you have diabetes<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"medication\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medication<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eating a heart-healthy diet is definitely a step in the right direction, but you want to be mindful about your medications, too. Don\u2019t stop taking any medication that your cardiologist may have prescribed without discussing it with your healthcare provider first.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIf you have a heart condition, lifestyle is not a replacement for your medications,\u201d Dr. Harkin says. \u201cThere are certain circumstances in which we can certainly decrease the dose or stop some medicine. But that should always be done under the supervision of your doctor.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have heart disease or a condition that raises your risk of heart disease, you may be taking one or more types of medication for your condition. For example, if you have high cholesterol, you might be taking a medication to lower cholesterol levels, perhaps a<\/span>\u00a0<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">statin<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> like<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lipitor<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Crestor<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other medications that you might be taking include one or more of the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, there are some foods that are problematic when you\u2019re taking certain meds<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make sure to discuss any potential food-drug interactions with your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you\u2019re planning to start a new diet.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b> <\/b><b>6 foods you shouldn\u2019t mix with medication<\/b><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"supplements\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supplements<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you aren\u2019t getting all the nutrients you need from heart-healthy food, supplements may help. Some <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">heart-healthy supplements<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Omega-3 fatty acids<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Magnesium<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inositol<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Folate<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Grape seed extract<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coenzyme CoQ10<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vitamin D<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s important to consult your 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<\/g>\n<\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Do you know: How to start (and stick to) a heart healthy diet in 2025 Key takeaways Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, with high blood pressure and high cholesterol as major risk factors. The Mediterranean and DASH diets are beneficial for heart health. Heart-healthy foods include antioxidant-rich fruits [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8474","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-health-news"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/review\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8474","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/review\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/review\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/review\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/review\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8474"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/review\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8474\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/review\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8474"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/review\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8474"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/review\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8474"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}