Cardiovascular Center

Diet and Nutrition

  • Diet and Cardiovascular Disease

    The Choose My Plate plan from the federal government is a guideline to help you eat a healthy diet.

  • Nutrition's Role in Disease Prevention

    Evidence is mounting that a healthful diet can help protect you from some diseases. What you eat -- or don't eat -- may help prevent heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes.

  • Cholesterol in the Blood

    The cholesterol in your blood comes from the foods you eat and your liver—but your liver makes all of the cholesterol your body needs.

  • Calculating Calories and Fat Grams

    Here's a formula to help you figure out how many calories and fat grams you need each day to maintain your current weight.

  • Determining Your Body Mass Index

    Your BMI gives a fairly accurate assessment of how much of your body is composed of fat.

  • Cook for a Healthy Heart

    Part of eating a heart-healthy diet means fixing foods using low-sodium, low-fat, and low-cholesterol methods.

  • Simple Ways to Improve Your Diet

    Eating healthy can reduce your risk of illness and lengthen your life. Eating a balanced, low-fat, low-cholesterol diet reduces your risk of heart disease, certain cancers, diabetes, stroke and other diseases. Follow these tips to help improve your diet.

  • How to Make Heart-Healthy Food Choices

    Maintaining a healthy diet is one of the best weapons for fighting cardiovascular disease and other heart conditions.

  • Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Coronary Heart Disease

    Omega-3s are a beneficial and essential form of fat, one that your body needs but can't make.

  • Good Sources of Antioxidants

    The most important antioxidants are vitamin C, vitamin E, and carotenoids, including beta carotene.

  • Components of Food

    When trying to make heart-healthy changes to your lifestyle and diet, it is helpful to know some basics about nutrition.

  • Swap This for That to Control Cholesterol

    With a few simple substitutions, you can reduce the cholesterol in your meals—and boost your heart health.

  • Prevention of Heart Disease Starts in Childhood

    You may think of heart disease as a problem for adults, not your young children. But diet and exercise habits started in childhood can begin a lifetime of heart health, or a lifetime of heart damage.