According to the American Heart Association (AHA)Trusted Source, these are the basic principles of the cardiac diet:
include a wide variety of vegetables and fruits
limit sugar and salt
choose whole grains instead of highly refined or white grains
get protein from plant sources such as legumes, nuts, and seeds, whenever possible
if including animal products in the diet, try to choose:
fish and seafood
lean meats
low fat or fat-free dairy
cook with liquid non-tropical plant oils, such as olive oil
limit highly processed foods
if including alcohol in the diet, try to do so in moderation
A person may also wish to consider removing alcohol from their diet.