cardiovascular diseases
NUTRITIONIST SERVICE
cardiovascular diseases
Cardiovascular diseases (MCVs) or heart diseases are a general term designating a group of diseases that affect the heart or blood vessels. Numerous heart diseases can be avoided by focusing on behavioral risk factors such as smoking, unhealthy food habits, physical inactivity, and excessive alcohol consumption.
Lifestyle management, including healthy food changes, can play a key role in the managing and/or the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Lifestyle management involves following a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and lean meats while limiting the consumption of saturated fats, salts and sugars. It’s also important to maintain a healthy weight while regularly practicing physical activity.
DYSLIPIDEMIA (high cholesterol level)
Cholesterol is a substance similar to the fat produced by the liver that produces certain hormones and a structural component of the membranes in our cells. Often we hear talking about 2 sub-categories of cholesterol.
- LDL cholesterol (or LDL-C cholesterol): often referred as the ‘bad’ cholesterol
- HDL cholesterol (or HDL-C) cholesterol) often referred to as the ‘good’ cholesterol
Yes, cholesterol can be found in foods, but it is equally linked to genetic factors, to age,gender and to factors linked lifestyle(which of course includes food habits)
Hypertension (high arterial pressure)
Arterial hypertension is a common condition where the arterial pressure in the arteries is too high. Know that many factors of modifiable risks exist, to know the factors linked to the way of life, smoking, avoiding excessive alcohol, food habit improvements, becoming more active, to name a few. The non-modifiable risk factors however, understand your age and your genetics.
HOW TO MANAGE CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES ?
Lifestyle management, which includes healthy dietary changes, can play a key role in managing and/or preventing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). A Mediterranean-style diet can help prevent and manage cardiovascular conditions. Strategies such as including fiber-rich and antioxidant-rich foods, choosing plant-based fats (like olive oil, nuts, and seeds), and limiting the intake of calorie-dense, saturated, and trans fats are some approaches that can be beneficial.
Need help ?
Understanding which foods affect cardiovascular health can be challenging. With a multitude of health claims on food labels and articles with new information about our diet and its effects on health, eating healthily can seem like a daunting task.
Together, we will discuss your health concerns and find solutions supported by scientific evidence to effectively guide you towards your health goals. Nutritional approaches include the DASH diet and/or the Mediterranean diet. A personalized meal plan is included and adjusted as needed, at no additional cost.
