5 Diet For An Enlarged Heart

An enlarged heart, medically known as cardiomegaly, is a medical condition in which the heart fails to pump proper amount of oxygenated blood required by the body.  Those with weak heart muscles, high blood pressure, pregnancy, suffered heart attack previously, having coronary artery disease, heart valve problem or family history of cardiomyopathy can have the risk of developing this medical condition.

Individuals with enlarged heart can experience symptoms like heart palpitation, difficulty in breathing, chest pain, dizziness, edema, cough and abnormal heart rhythms. An enlarged heart can lead to complications like cardiac arrest, heart failure and blood clots. Treatment for enlarged heart includes managing of the underlying cause with medication and surgery. Following a restricted diet can help to ease the symptoms associated with enlarged heart.

Diet Tips For Enlarged Heart

Low-Salt Diet

Restricting the daily intake of salt is highly important for you, if you are suffering from an enlarged heart. Eating salty food will worsen the heart condition. Excess sodium in your body can cause fluid retention, swelling in the limbs and shortness of breath. This will compel your heart to work harder. Limit your salt intake less then 2000 mg per day. Consume low sodium foods like low sodium cheese, fresh meat, poultry, eggs , milk etc.

Avoid Processed Foods

Cut back on foods like processed meats like hot dogs, smokes /canned beef, frozen, pastas, pizzas, chips, crackers, salted nuts, pickles and salad dressings etc. Home cooked meals will be a better option for you as you will be able know how much salt you are consuming everyday. To reverse the harmful effect, you must include potassium rich food like grapes, bananas, tomatoes and green leafy vegetables in your meals. To add taste and extra flavour to your meal, you can use herbs for seasoning along with flavors like orange or lemon zest etc.

Low-Fat Diet

You can keep the symptoms in check by limiting your fat intake along with sodium intake. Restrict yourself from consuming trans-fat. Instead use low cholesterol unsaturated fats. Most food chains use trans-fat in their dishes which can raise your blood pressure and cholesterol level. So refrain from eating cakes, muffins, potato chips and fries as they are high in fat and sodium. Whenever you purchase processed food choose low-fat-or fat free items. Decreasing fat intake will help you to loose weight, keep blood pressure and cholesterol normal and prevent the symptoms from worsening. Choose low fat version of milk, yogurt, cheese and sour cream.

Use Smart Cooking Techniques

Switch to grilled, baked or steamed version of cooking foods instead of deep frying. It is not necessary to eliminate fats completely from your diet. You must include foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids like flaxseeds, nuts, salmon, tuna, mackerel, extra virgin olive oil, canola oil or soybean oil in your diet. These healthy fats will help your heart to work in a better way.

Eat Complex Carbohydrates

Your diet should contain lot of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. These kinds of foods are packed with nutrients and fibers that are crucial for a healthy heart. If you are a diabetic, you should be even more careful because diabetes can worsen the symptoms of enlarged heart. Including enough complex carbohydrate like oats, barley, legumes in your meals will help you to keep your blood sugar level in check.