Heart conditions like high blood pressure, coronary artery disease and others involve the immune system in different ways. Your body requires good nutrition, regular movement, and sleep to help the cells of the immune system replenish, recover and continue to function normally.
Our day to day recommendations for heart-healthy nutrition are:
- Limit foods that have saturated fats (such as fatty meats, deli meat, soups, chips, popcorn, fried foods, gravies, cream sauces)
- Reduce salt intake (choose foods that are “low sodium” with 140mg of sodium or less per serving)
- Choose high fiber foods (add in whole grains, beans, fruits and vegetables to everyday dishes) - bonus points for colorful fruits and veggies that can help add nutrients that are also important for immune health! (EAL, 2008)
With any health condition, you want to ensure you follow recommendations from your healthcare provider as well as public health guidelines in order to keep your body and immune system safe and running at its best.
Reference:
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. EAL Cardiovascular Disease. Evidence Analysis Library. Published 2008. Accessed June 15, 2021. https://www.andeal.org/topic.cfm?menu=1586&cat=3828
