5 COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT NUTRITION IN CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

❤️ Nutrition plays a vital role in preventing and managing cardiovascular disease. However, some beliefs that seem like "eating well for the heart" aren't entirely accurate.
Join M.Sc., M.D. Nguyen Phuong Anh - Nutrition Specialist at CarePlus - to find out more in the article below.

1️⃣ Heart disease means you must completely avoid fat
Fat often gets "a bad reputation" because saturated fat and trans fat can raise LDL cholesterol and increase cardiovascular risk. However, the body still needs fat to supply essential fatty acids and help absorb fat-soluble vitamins.
👉 So there's no need to eliminate fat from your diet entirely. What matters is choosing the right type and eating it in moderation: limit animal fat, fatty meats, and coconut oil; prioritize vegetable oils, fish, and nuts.

2️⃣ Eating light just means cutting back on salt when cooking
Sodium doesn't only come from the salt added during cooking - it's also found in large amounts in processed foods such as instant noodles, sausages, bacon... as well as in seasonings and dipping sauces. A single pack of instant noodles can provide a sodium amount equivalent to several grams of salt, accounting for a significant portion of the recommended limit of under 5g of salt per day for adults.
👉 So eating light needs to happen across all 3 stages: choosing minimally processed foods - seasoning lightly while cooking - and limiting dipping sauces while eating.

3️⃣ Heart disease means eggs must be avoided
One chicken egg contains about 200 mg of cholesterol, but dietary cholesterol isn't the only factor affecting blood cholesterol. Saturated fat, trans fat, and the overall diet also play an important role.
👉 So it's not necessary to eliminate eggs entirely. When eating eggs, pair them with vegetables, whole grains, and foods low in saturated fat; while also limiting animal fat, fatty meats, and processed meats. People with high LDL cholesterol should be advised on a diet suited to their specific condition.

4️⃣ Olive oil is good for the heart, so the more you use, the better
Olive oil is rich in unsaturated fat and is a signature fat source in the Mediterranean diet. However, regardless of the type of oil, 1g of fat still provides 9 kcal. Using too much can still increase the calorie content of your meals and affect weight management.
👉 Olive oil is beneficial when used to replace animal fat and other saturated fat sources - not because the more you use, the better.

5️⃣ For a healthy heart, you should switch to a vegetarian diet
A vegetarian diet typically includes plenty of vegetables, legumes, and plant-based foods that are good for health. However, "eating vegetarian" doesn't automatically mean "eating well for the heart."
Vegetarian dishes can still contain large amounts of refined starches, sugar, salt, fried oil, and processed foods. In particular, some meat-substitute vegetarian dishes can be high in sodium and food additives.
👉 So what matters isn't whether you eat vegetarian or not, but the quality of the foods we choose every day.

❤️ Advice from the Nutrition Doctor
A heart-healthy diet doesn't mean you must completely avoid a certain food, nor does eating large amounts of a "healthy food" automatically make it better for you.
What matters is making the right choices, substituting wisely, and eating appropriate amounts to build a balanced diet that can be maintained long-term.
For people already living with cardiovascular disease, the diet needs to be adjusted to suit each individual's health condition, risk factors, and treatment goals.
🩺 At CarePlus, you'll be accompanied by a team of experienced Nutrition Specialists, who will build a personalized meal plan based on in-depth examination results and a modern equipment system - helping you manage your cardiovascular condition scientifically while still enjoying your meals every day.
👉 Don't let misconceptions about nutrition stand in the way of caring for your heart.
💬 Contact our free hotline 1800 6116 or message CarePlus's fanpage to book a nutrition consultation today.