A good question. I've been following a low sodium, low cholesterol diet since my heart attack 6.5 months ago. I cleared all the processed foods out of the house and even met with a nutritionist when I started cardiac rehab. I think the diet was a significant reason why I lost 25-30 pounds. I was very concerned about making sure that everything was low-sodium, but have read that low sodium levels can contribute to fatigue/lack of energy. I think we need to cut back on the high sodium products (processed foods/fast foods) and adjust our sodium intake levels accordingly. I have not had any fast food since since my heart attack. Also, the last time I saw my cardiologist, he told me that I needed to "cheat" on the diet once in a while. He said the key was not to fall back into bad habits. I do season many of my meals with Mrs. Dash (varied flavors). Let's look at it this way....I'm doing everything I've been told to hopefully prevent another cardiac issue.

Rangers13 - That is wonderful!!! If you don't mind me asking, what do eat? Like what do your meals/snacks look like?

I've tidied up my diet quite a bit. I also have heart failure so I am pretty careful on the sodium as its important for me not to build up fluids. I still fall off the wagon from time to time, have the odd beer etc but I now stop at 3 instead of 13 lol and I do have takeaway food from time to time, but very seldom.
My breakfasts are normally always weetbix or porridge through the week, but I have eggs on wholemeal toast sometimes on the weekend, lunches are always sandwiches, salad rolls etc and stir frys and lots of vegetables seem to have invaded my dinners. I just try to use healthier ingredients, whether its bread or fillings or spreads I just try to choose the ones that have the best "numbers" for heart health.
Don't beat yourself up for being a bit slack once in a while, you have to find a balance.

Take care
Grant

Its only been a week from today since my heart attack and I haven't added salt to anything, that's a big step for me, lol.....I'm also curious about snacks too....I also heard that orange juice, anything soy, corn and margarine(butter instead) was not good to consume.

I've heard though that dark chocolate and melons and berries are really good for your heart!

Changing your habits, especially eating can be challenging even in light of the wake up call. I tend to be abstinent and do things my own way. In most things I've found moderation works well. It keeps me from feeling like I'm giving up everything I enjoy while still maintaining adequate control to prevent exacerbating my condition.

When I was released from doing hard time in the cardiac unit, I started doing the cooking at home. I experimented with substitutes for the sodium so many of us seem to crave and found that using herbs and spices not only allow me to eliminate the salt, but the food actually tastes better. The draw back has been far too many friends stop in at meal time.

Garlic, onions, mushrooms, peppers, wine, and Mrs. Dash Original seasoning are some items you might consider in your cooking to add flavor and eliminate your desire for salt.

I'm cautious but won't hesitate to go to a restaurant periodically, I just try to select something I'll enjoy but has the least impact. I inflate like a balloon pretty quickly if I overdo it. Once a month I select a favorite food and treat myself. Recently it has been chili cheese dogs, bad, bad bad. But again one killer dog periodically is not the end of the world.

Like most people with CHF and a low EF (ejaculation factor), I take diuretics (water pills) to maintain a healthy level of fluid. When my weight exceeds 2 pounds gain over 24 hours I increase my diuretics to shed the build up until I go back to normal weight and shed the fluid. Don't do that without your doctors approval as there is risk associated such as potassium depletion. Oh and of course you wind up polishing the porcelain throne a lot.

So hopefully some of this will help, but you are at a point where a little patience is needed for you to adjust to your new reality.

VERY good advice! Thank you all. I guess I just need more will power as chips and candy are a weakness! I want to get to the point, as in your case robopop, where I can cook healthy TASTY food. I am in transition though....letting go of some old habits but hoping to let them go for good and for the long term. I have a few Mediterranean cookbooks that I love...I just need to make the time to plan and prepare better (which is my biggest downfall and why I opt bad convenience store food). Prayers for me in this area is greatly appreciated! Thanks again to you all for your advice!

Having a 'widowmaker' 3 years ago was a shock to my system.

Now I really embrace a healthy lifestyle, which includes low sodium meals and low cholesterol foods. Before the heart attack I loved fats and salt. I was not grossly overweight, and never smoked or drank.

After the heart attack I lost 30 lbs (of which I have since gained back 20), but still eat much healthier than previously. Clearly my daily meds have had a great impact on my health, but I've thought that even if a better diet doesn't improve my heart health, it's still a good thing to do.

I cut back on egg yolks, pizza, red meats, most canned foods, and potato chips.

These days I don't totally avoid treats or restaurant meals. I have those occasionally and with some restraint. I eat a lot more veggies and fruits. My meals are pretty decent, and I don't feel deprived.

So for years I knew that eating fast food nearly three meals a day wasn't good for me but I didn't think it was THAT bad for me until my HA on 1/28/14! After nearly losing my life to a heart attack at age 46, I did a 180 degree turn and now am at the opposite extreme!

I've embraced the Esselstyn Diet that Bill Clinton follows 'cause I want to do all I can to prevent ever ever having a heart attack again. But here's the diet: No dairy, no meat, no fish, no avocados, no nuts. I pretty much eat a plant-based diet now, lost 15 pounds "bad weight" and now seem to have a stable weight that my body is staying at but I will admit I wonder if this radical diet is making me nutritionally deficient so at my next doctor's appointment I've requested the doctor order some special blood tests to see how my iron, protein, Vitamin D levels, etc. are doing. If I can't maintain the Esselstyn Diet, I think the next Diet that will help me never again have a heart attack would be Dr. Ornish's Diet which I've not yet studied since I've been living the Esselstyn Diet thus far. Lastly, the Esselstyn Diet has indeed so quickly changed my lipid levels to normal except my HDL (good cholesterol) is still running a little bit low but Dr. Esselstyn says this is commonplace as a side effect of eating plant-based but not to worry about.

I know whatever diet it is you choose, it has to be something that you can honestly make into a total lifestyle change. For many, the Esselstyn Diet is "too hard" but for many like me who had THE SCARE OF HIS LIFE, I can do this 'cause imagining not being around to support my two young daughters and my wonderful wife is too harsh a thought to make it worth my going back to the fast food that got me here in the first place.

Hi I do not subscribe to the Cholesterol foods cause heart disease nonsense. Neither does fat with the exception of trans fats. To lower your risk you should cut out all processed foods, eat only natural foods. I would also cut out one of the primary causes of heart disease namely sugar. This means reducing your blood sugar levels by dropping simple Carb's as low as you can. In other words no bread, cakes, pastries, white rice etc. If you are a meat eater make sure you eat only grass fed animals. Eat plenty of oily fish and finally make sure you are getting the blood readings that really paint a picture and not just the simple cholesterol reading nonsense that the average GP provides. I have been blogging about many of these topics for the last year at www.heartattackandthenhs.wordpress.com

Good luck