CARDIAC RECOVERY DIET
Post-Heart Attack / Post-Angioplasty / Bypass / Cardiac Weakness
This diet focuses on:
• Reducing cholesterol
• Controlling blood pressure
• Reducing inflammation
• Supporting heart muscle recovery
• Preventing future blockages
General Rules :
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Oil: Maximum 3–4 tsp per day (use cold-pressed groundnut, sesame, or small quantity olive oil).
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Salt: < 5g per day (avoid pickle, pappad, packaged food).
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Sugar: Avoid refined sugar.
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Cooking method: Steam, boil, pressure cook, sauté lightly. No deep frying.
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Eat small frequent meals (every 3–4 hours).
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Dinner before 7:30 PM.
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Warm water sipping through the day.
Cardiac Recovery Diet Guide:
A – Almonds
Preparation: Soak 5 almonds overnight, peel skin.
Time: Morning empty stomach.
Combine with: 1 walnut or 1 tsp flaxseed powder.
Benefit: Good fats (omega-3), reduces bad cholesterol.
B – Barley
Preparation: Barley porridge (boiled with water + small jeera).
Time: Breakfast or lunch substitute for rice.
Combine with: Vegetable curry or dal.
Benefit: High fiber, controls cholesterol and sugar.
C – Carrot
Preparation: Raw grated salad or lightly steamed.
Time: Mid-morning.
Combine with: Cucumber + lemon + black pepper.
Benefit: Antioxidant, artery protection.
D – Dal (Moong dal preferred)
Preparation: Thin dal with turmeric + garlic + jeera.
Time: Lunch.
Combine with: Red rice or chapati (no maida).
Benefit: Light protein, easy digestion.
E – Elaichi (Cardamom)
Preparation: Add to warm herbal tea.
Time: After meals.
Combine with: Tulsi or ginger tea.
Benefit: Helps BP control and digestion.
F – Flax Seeds
Preparation: Dry roast, powder.
Time: 1 tsp morning.
Combine with: Buttermilk or sprinkle on salad.
Benefit: Omega-3 rich, reduces triglycerides.
G – Garlic
Preparation: 1 crushed raw clove (if tolerated) or cooked in dal.
Time: Morning or lunch.
Combine with: Warm water.
Benefit: Natural blood thinner.
H – Horse gram (in small quantity)
Preparation: Boiled soup (thin).
Time: Lunch only (not night).
Combine with: Jeera + pepper.
Benefit: Reduces cholesterol but use moderate (heating food).
I – Indian Gooseberry (Amla)
Preparation: Fresh juice diluted.
Time: Morning.
Combine with: Honey (very little).
Benefit: Powerful antioxidant.
J – Jeera Water
Preparation: Boil 1 tsp jeera in water.
Time: Early morning.
Combine with: Few coriander seeds.
Benefit: Improves metabolism.
K – Karela (Bitter gourd)
Preparation: Lightly sauté or boiled curry.
Time: Lunch.
Combine with: Dal + chapati.
Benefit: Sugar control (important for cardiac patients).
L – Lauki (Bottle gourd)
Preparation: Lauki soup or curry.
Time: Dinner.
Combine with: Moong dal.
Benefit: Light, heart friendly.
M – Millets (Ragi, Foxtail)
Preparation: Ragi porridge or millet upma.
Time: Breakfast.
Combine with: Vegetable sambar.
Benefit: Fiber rich, low glycemic index.
N – Nuts (Limited)
Preparation: Dry roasted.
Time: Mid-morning snack.
Combine with: Green tea.
Benefit: Healthy fats.
O – Oats
Preparation: Oats porridge (water + vegetables).
Time: Breakfast.
Combine with: Flaxseed powder.
Benefit: Beta-glucan fiber reduces LDL.
P – Papaya
Preparation: Fresh cubes.
Time: Evening snack.
Combine with: 4 soaked almonds.
Benefit: Digestive support.
Q – Quinoa
Preparation: Cook like rice.
Time: Lunch.
Combine with: Mixed vegetable curry.
Benefit: Complete protein.
R – Red Rice / Brown Rice
Preparation: Boiled.
Time: Lunch only (small portion).
Combine with: Dal + sabzi.
Benefit: Fiber improves lipid profile.
S – Spinach
Preparation: Steamed or palak dal.
Time: Lunch.
Combine with: Garlic tempering.
Benefit: Nitrates improve blood flow.
T – Tomato
Preparation: Raw or soup.
Time: Lunch or evening.
Combine with: Black pepper + olive oil few drops.
Benefit: Lycopene protects arteries.
U – Urad Dal (Limited)
Preparation: Light dal only (avoid fried vada).
Time: Lunch occasionally.
Combine with: Red rice.
Benefit: Protein support.
V – Vegetable Soup
Preparation: Carrot + lauki + beans + garlic (boiled).
Time: Dinner.
Combine with: 1 small millet roti.
Benefit: Light digestion at night.
W – Warm Water
Preparation: Plain warm water.
Time: Throughout day.
Combine with: Lemon (morning).
Benefit: Improves circulation.
X – Xylitol (Natural sweetener – limited)
Preparation: Use if needed instead of sugar.
Time: Rare use.
Combine with: Herbal drinks.
Benefit: Better than refined sugar.
Y – Yogurt (Low fat)
Preparation: Homemade curd.
Time: Lunch only.
Combine with: Flaxseed powder.
Benefit: Gut health improves heart health.
Z – Zucchini
Preparation: Steamed or light sauté.
Time: Dinner.
Combine with: Moong dal.
Benefit: Low calorie, heart friendly.
Daily Sample Cardiac Recovery Meal Timing:
6:00 AM – Jeera water
7:00 AM – Soaked almonds + flaxseed
8:30 AM – Oats / Millet breakfast
11:00 AM – Carrot + cucumber salad
1:00 PM – Red rice + moong dal + spinach + lauki
4:00 PM – Papaya + green tea
6:30 PM – Vegetable soup + millet roti
8:00 PM – Warm turmeric milk (low fat, small cup)
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