National and international nutritional recommendations agree on some general guidelines to help maintain a healthy heart thanks to a balanced diet.
Tips for a healthy heart
- Vary your choices. Eat a wide variety of healthy foods, and build occasional treats into your menu sensibly.
- Eat smaller portions from smaller plates and avoid second helpings. Be always moderate in your food and drink consumption.
- Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. Choose at least five portions a day.
- Eat regular meals based on starchy foods like bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, oats, etc…Choose wholegrain varieties where possible.
- Choose lower fat dairy foods, and lean meats.
- Try to eat two portions of fish a week, one of which should be oily (e.g. mackerel, salmon, herring, sardines).
- Swap butter for a healthy spread high in ‘good’ polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats and the lowest amounts of saturated and trans fats.
- Try to cut down on too much salt. Use herbs and spices to liven up your food instead