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Heart Healthy Food Choices

Heart healthy eating is a matter of balance. Simple food choices that you make every day can make a big difference - especially the types of fat and carbohydrate in the foods that you choose. Use this handy chart to help you make heart healthy food choices more often.


ENJOY MORE OFTEN CHOOSE LESS OFTEN

Foods rich in mono and polyunsaturated oils and fats
(including foods rich in omega-3)

Foods high in saturated and trans fats
(especially processed foods)
Vegetable oils such as olive, canola, soy and sunflower oil Deep-fried and battered foods
Non-hydrogenated margarines (choose soft tub margarines with no trans fat rather than hard Butter, lard, shortening and hard stick margarines
Fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, trout and herring (try to eat at least two 75 gram/ 2 ½ oz/ ½ cup servings each week) Baked goods like cookies, cakes pastries and doughnuts
Nuts such as walnuts and almonds and nut butters such as peanut butter Snack foods like chips, some crackers and microwave popcorn (check the labels)
Seeds such as sunflower and flax Coffee whiteners and whipped toppings
  Full fat milk, cheese, sour cream and ice cream
  Processed meats, sausage, hot dogs, fatty meats and poultry with the skin
Tip: Use these heart-healthy mono and polyunsaturated fats to replace foods that are high in saturated and trans fats in your diet, rather than adding more fat. Tip: Instead choose foods cooked with less fat and healthier fat and opt for lower fat milk products, leaner meats and alternatives such as dried beans, peas, lentils, tofu, nuts and seeds.

Unrefined carbohydrates
(whole grains, vegetables, fruit and legumes)

Highly refined carbohydrate-rich foods
(processed foods)
Vegetables and fruit, especially colourful ones such as spinach, peppers, squash, berries, kiwi and melons (fresh, frozen, dried or canned in juice, not syrup) Sugar, syrups, honey, jams, jellies and sugary foods
100% fruit or vegetable juices Sweets such as candy and chocolate bars
Whole grains such as brown or wild rice, quinoa, barley, and bulgur, whole wheat whole grain breads, whole grain cereals such as oats, and whole grain pastas Sweet baked goods such as cakes, cookies, pies, pastries and doughnuts
Legumes such as lentils, and canned or dried peas and beans such as chick peas, split peas or black eyed peas, and pinto, kidney or black beans. Pop and sugary fruit drinks
Seeds such as sunflower and flax White breads, pasta and rice
  Refined ready-to-eat cereals
  Tip: Have fun experimenting with a variety of vegetables and fruit, whole grains and whole grain products, and legumes in your meals and snacks.

Salt intake is also important for your heart health, especially if you have high blood pressure. Get tips for controlling your salt intake in Cut out the salt.

Remember that healthy eating is about balance. Learn more about Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide.

Glossary

Blood Pressure
Description:
is a measurement of the force applied to the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood through the body. The pressure is determined by the force and amount of blood pumped, and the size and flexibility of the arteries. Blood pressure readings are usually given as two numbers: for example, 110 over 70 (written as 110/70). The first number is the systolic blood pressure reading, and it represents the maximum pressure exerted when the heart contracts. The second number is the diastolic blood pressure reading, and it represents the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest.
Carbohydrate
Description:
One of the three macronutrients, along with protein and fat, that supplies energy (calories) to the body. There are three categories of carbohydrates: sugars, starch and fiber.
Fat
Description:
Is one of the nutrients, along with protein and carbohydrate, that supplies energy (calories) to the body. Dietary fats include saturated (animal flesh, butter, margarine, processed and fried foods), trans (hydrogenated oils) and unsaturated (vegetable oils). Unsaturated fats are the preferred type for health reasons.
Legumes
Description:
Legumes are seeds that grow in pods. Legumes are high in fibre, low in fat and a good source of protein. Beans, lentils, peas, soybeans, and peanuts are all examples of some common legumes.
Sugars
Description:
A group of carbohydrates that help make our food sweet. Glucose, fructose, sucrose and lactose are some examples. The different names indicate that each sugar has a different chemical structure.
Trans Fat
Description:
Is a specific type of fat formed when liquid fats are made into solid fats by the addition of hydrogen atoms through a process called hydrogenation. Small amounts of trans fats are found naturally in certain animal based foods. Consumption of trans fat can increase your risk of developing heart disease.
Whole Grains
Description:
A whole grain is the entire seed of a plant that contains the bran, germ and endosperm. Having all three parts of the whole grain together provides the greatest health benefits.

Provided by the Ministry of Health Promotion.

Ontario

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