Certain major risk factors have been shown to increase a person's chances of developing heart disease. Other contributing factors have been identified, though less conclusively, to increase one's risk. Some of these risk and contributing factors are preventable, even treatable.
having a change in sex hormone levels, as a result of natural or surgical menopause
What is the information for this topic? To achieve an overall healthy eating pattern.
Choose an overall balanced diet with foods from all major food groups, emphasising fruits, vegetables and grains.
Consume a variety of fruits and vegetables. Choose 5 or more servings per day.
Consume a variety of grain products, including whole grains. Choose 6 or more servings per day.
Include fat-free and low-fat dairy products, fish, legumes, poultry, and lean meats.
Eat at least 2 servings of fish per week.
To achieve a healthy body weight.
Avoid excess intake of kilojoules.
Maintain a level of physical activity that achieves fitness and balances energy expenditure with kilojoule intake. For weight reduction, kilojoules burned should exceed kilojoules consumed.
Limit foods that are high in kilojoules and/or low in nutritional quality, including those with a high amount of added sugar.
To achieve a desirable cholesterol level.
Limit foods with a high content of saturated fat and cholesterol. Substitute grains and unsaturated fat from vegetables, fish, legumes, and nuts for animal fats.
Limit cholesterol to 300 milligrams (mg) a day for the general population and 200 mg a day for those with heart disease or its risk factors.
Limit trans fatty acids. Trans fatty acids are found in foods containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, such as packaged cookies, crackers and other baked goods, commercially prepared fried foods, and some margarines.
Limit salt intake to less than 6 grams or 2,400 mg of sodium per day, slightly more than 1 teaspoon a day.
If you drink, limit alcohol consumption to no more than 2 drinks per day for women and 4 drinks per day for men.
Author: Kimberly Tessmer, RD, LD Reviewer: HealthAnswers Australia Medical Review Panel Editor: Dr David Taylor, Chief Medical Officer HealthAnswers Australia Last Updated: 1/10/2001 Contributors Potential conflict of interest information for reviewers available on request
