HEALTH INSIGHTS

Heart Failure: Making Changes to Your Diet

August 04, 2018

Heart Failure: Making Changes to Your Diet

Woman reading nutrition label on bottle of milk.You have a condition called heart failure. When you have heart failure, excess fluid is more likely to build up in your body because your heart isn't working well. This makes the heart work harder to pump blood. Fluid buildup causes symptoms such as shortness of breath and swelling (edema). This is often referred to as congestive heart failure or CHF. Controlling the amount of salt (sodium) you eat may help stop fluid from building up. Your doctor may also tell you to reduce the amount of fluid you drink.

Reading food labels

Your healthcare provider will tell you how much sodium you can eat each day. Read food labels to keep track. Keep in mind that certain foods are high in salt. These include canned, frozen, and processed foods. Check the amount of sodium in each serving. Watch out for high-sodium ingredients. These include MSG (monosodium glutamate), baking soda, and sodium phosphate. 

Eating less salt

Give yourself time to get used to eating less salt. It may take a little while. Here are some tips to help:

  • Take the saltshaker off the table. Replace it with salt-free herb mixes and spices.

  • Eat fresh or plain frozen vegetables. These have much less salt than canned vegetables.

  • Choose low-sodium snacks like sodium-free pretzels, crackers, or air-popped popcorn.

  • Don’t add salt to your food when you’re cooking. Instead, season your foods with pepper, lemon, garlic, or onion.

  • When you eat out, ask that your food be cooked without added salt.

  • Avoid eating fried foods as these often have a great deal of salt.

If you’re told to limit fluids

You may need to limit how much fluid you have to help prevent swelling. This includes anything that is liquid at room temperature, such as ice cream and soup. If your doctor tells you to limit fluid, try these tips:

  • Measure drinks in a measuring cup before you drink them. This will help you meet daily goals.

  • Chill drinks to make them more refreshing.

  • Suck on frozen lemon wedges to quench thirst.

  • Only drink when you’re thirsty.

  • Chew sugarless gum or suck on hard candy to keep your mouth moist.

  • Weigh yourself daily to know if your body's fluid content is rising.

My sodium goal

Your healthcare provider may give you a sodium goal to meet each day. This includes sodium found in food as well as salt that you add. My goal is to eat no more than ___________ mg of sodium per day.

 

When to call your doctor

Call your doctor right away if you have any symptoms of worsening heart failure. These can include:

  • Sudden weight gain

  • Increased swelling of your legs or ankles

  • Trouble breathing when you’re resting or at night

  • Increase in the number of pillows you have to sleep on

  • Chest pain, pressure, discomfort, or pain in the jaw, neck, or back

Updated:  

August 04, 2018

Sources:  

Gupta, D., MD. Dietary Sodium Intake in Heart Failure, Circulation (2012); 126; pp. 479-485, Impact of Dietary Sodium Restriction on Heart Failure Outcomes (2016); 4(1); pp. 24-35, Yancy, C., MD, 2013 GUideline for the Management of Heart Failure, Water ReSodium Restrictionstriction, Circulation (2013); 128, Yancy, C., MD, 2013 GUideline for the Management of Heart Failure, Water Restriction, Circulation (2013); 128

Reviewed By:  

Fetterman, Anne, RN, BSN,Gandelman, Glenn, MD, MPH,Image reviewed by StayWell art team.