Nutrition and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk

A healthy diet exerts a protective effect beyond the associated improvement in major identified risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (eg blood pressure, lipids). Healthy eating habits need to be maintained long term. Many patients benefit from referral to a dietitian, who can provide an individualised eating plan.

Advise patients to:

• eat fresh whole foods
• minimise intake of energy-dense, low-nutrient foods (ie foods high in sugar or fat)
• drink water rather than soft drinks or fruit juice.

Recommend a reduced-salt diet, which may be particularly beneficial in patients with elevated blood pressure or heart failure. Processed foods (including bread) are often high in salt, and intake should be minimised.

Fish provides healthier fats than other animal protein and is good for cardiovascular health. Recommend eating oily fish 2 or 3 times each week. A traditional Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts has been shown to be beneficial in reducing the risk of cardiovascular eventsEstruch, 2018.

For more information on healthy eating, see:

• Australian Dietary Guidelines
• Dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH)
• Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute fact sheets.