Well - Winter 2014 - (Page 19)

NutritioN A Two-Pronged Approach to Heart-Healthy Eating Lowering your blood pressure and improving your cholesterol levels could save your life. T he American mantra for heart health has always been a simple one. Diet and exercise; rinse and repeat. But what kind of diet keeps your heart functioning at its most effective level? UNC outpatient nutritionist Susannah Southern, RD, LDN, recommends a two-pronged approach to help lower your blood pressure and improve your cholesterol levels. "I usually get referrals when a patient has elevated fasting cholesterol levels, or when a patient's blood pressure is high and they request a nutrition referral from their doctor," says Southern. When a patient is referred to the outpatient nutrition office, they have an initial visit to compare their current eating habits with heart-healthy recommendations. Southern also explains to patients how eating habits can affect blood pressure and cholesterol levels.Then together, they construct a new dietary approach. Step 1: Slash the Salt The most significant dietary contributor to high blood pressure is excessive sodium intake, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture. People who are not at risk for cardiovascular disease should consume no more than 2,300 milligrams (mg) of sodium a day, while those who are at risk should reduce their sodium intake to less than 1,500 mg per day. Many cardiac patients who are admitted to the hospital are not aware of how much sodium they consume. UNC inpatient cardiac nutritionist Ashley Smith, RD, LDN, says she frequently meets with patients who are surprised to learn that they will be placed on a sodiumrestricted diet. The majority of sodium in the American diet is added during processing, not during cooking or at the table, says Smith. This makes it incredibly important to always read nutrition labels and to choose low-sodium options whenever possible. Step 2: Cut the Bad Fats Southern also advises her patients to replace saturated and trans fats with healthier ones from olive oil, nuts, avocado and fish. Limiting saturated fat helps reduce dietary cholesterol, as well, since many foods high in saturated fats are usually the main sources of cholesterol. In the human body, low-density lipoprotein, or LDL cholesterol, builds up in arteries, forming deposits that restrict blood from passing through. Dietary cholesterol is primarily found in animal products, such as eggs and beef.Those who are at risk for cardiovascular disease should consume no more than 12 to 17 grams per day. Putting heart-healthy eating into practice can be difficult. Southern often recommends using a food journal, which makes it easier to add up the numbers and adds accountability. pHoTo: THinksTock By Toni Bowerman Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, is known as "bad" cholesterol. Highdensity lipoprotein, or HDL, is known as "good" cholesterol. Together, they are part of your total cholesterol count. In addition, Southern often refers her patients to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, developed by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The DASH plan encourages abundant consumption of fruits, vegetables, seafood, poultry, whole grains and nuts, while curbing red and processed meats, as well as foods containing excess sugar or salt. www.unchealthcare.org 19 http://www.unchealthcare.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Well - Winter 2014

Well - Winter 2014
Contents
UNC Health Care News
Community
Maryam’s Journey
Simple Diagnosis— Complicated Solution
Teamwork Guides UNC’s Cardiovascular
When Wounds Won’t Heal
Nutrition
Resources

Well - Winter 2014