Dietary prevention and treatment guidelines for coronary heart disease and hypertension

Dietary Prevention and Treatment of Coronary Heart Disease

Coronary heart disease, also known as coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, is based on atherosclerosis. Therefore, the diet of patients with coronary heart disease should focus on preventing and mitigating the development of arteriosclerosis.

Control Energy Intake:Most obese individuals suffer from simple obesity caused by excessive calorie intake, which increases the incidence of hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and hypertension—all risk factors for coronary heart disease. Therefore, energy intake should be aimed at maintaining a normal weight.

Reduce Fat and Limit Cholesterol:While emphasizing reducing total fat intake, special attention should be paid to the "quality" of fat. Saturated fatty acids in fat can raise cholesterol, while unsaturated fatty acids can lower cholesterol. The ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids in the diet should ideally be 1–1.5.

High-Quality Protein:Soy products are not only rich in protein but also contain a significant amount of phytosterols, which are beneficial for the excretion of bile acids and reduce cholesterol synthesis. Soy lecithin also aids in cholesterol transport; therefore, the intake of soy products should be increased.

[Further details on soy products are needed for a complete translation.] Reduce simple sugars and increase dietary fiber. Excessive intake of sugars, especially refined sugars, can be converted into triglycerides in the body, causing hyperlipidemia. Dietary fiber can absorb cholesterol and increase the excretion of steroids and bile acids, thus lowering serum cholesterol. Eat more whole grains, vegetables, and fruits, which are rich in dietary fiber.

Eat more vegetables and fruits. Fresh vegetables are rich in vitamins, especially vitamin C, which can increase blood vessel elasticity, improve vascular permeability, and lower cholesterol. Green leafy vegetables contain a large amount of vitamin B₆, which has an inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation, thereby reducing thrombus formation.

Dietary Prevention and Treatment of Hypertension

Diet is very important for controlling hypertension. Therefore, hypertensive patients should pay attention to the following points in their diet:

A reasonable diet. Hypertension is directly related to diet, so a reasonable diet is essential:

① Control total body weight to maintain a standard weight.

② Limit total fat intake.

③ Protein intake should account for about 15% of total calories.

④ Limit salt intake. ⑤ Eat more fruits and seafood to increase potassium and calcium intake.

⑥ Eat regularly and in consistent amounts. Dinner should consist of light and easily digestible foods.

Eat fruits that can lower blood pressure.

① Watermelon: Its juice contains almost all the nutrients the body needs. The sugars and proteases it contains have therapeutic effects on nephritis and lower blood pressure.

② Apple: Contains various vitamins and is rich in potassium and other trace elements.

③ Banana: Has a blood pressure-lowering effect; beneficial for patients with hypertension.

④ Hawthorn: Has a significant effect in treating hypertension and hyperlipidemia.

Eat yin-nourishing vegetables.

① Garlic: Has a blood pressure-lowering effect and also has a certain therapeutic effect on patients with myocardial infarction.

② Tomato: Has heat-clearing, detoxifying, and blood pressure-lowering effects. Eating two tomatoes daily is effective.

③ Onion: Contains components that can activate fibrin activity, lower blood pressure, and prevent arteriosclerosis.

④ Celery: Has a good blood pressure-lowering effect. Celery can be chopped, juiced, and mixed with some brown sugar. It can then be steeped in boiling water and drunk. Alternatively, celery root, rich in blood pressure-lowering substances, can be decocted and consumed. ⑤ Chrysanthemum greens: These have blood pressure-lowering and brain-boosting effects. A handful of fresh chrysanthemum greens can be chopped, mashed, and the juice squeezed out, then diluted with warm water and drunk.

Eat lipid-lowering foods. Common lipid-lowering foods include ginger, onions, garlic, scallions, and spicy foods such as pepper.