Heart Healthy Choices?

Ok....so I had a cardiac episode this past week (they SAY it wasn't a heart attack, but it sure felt like one). I've now been put on a low sodium heart healthy diet.
Having said that.................I LOVE to eat out. I LOVE ethnic foods. I also HATE to be a pain at restaurants asking for special stuff.
What are the restaurants around town that won't be truly offended by me asking for sauces on the side, etc? I REFUSE to eat only salad when we go out. HELPPPPP!

You're gonna have to learn how to speak up for what you need, love it or hate it. Otherwise you can't expect them to know what you want or need.

This will especially come into play with low salt, and keeping the oil out of the equation. Some restaurants brush oil or butter on meat before they bring it out to you, so you have to specify if you don't want them to do that.

Some info if you're interested in going plant-based to reverse heart disease: http://engine2diet.com/resources-and-re ... t-disease/

I also love to eat out, but I follow that same Engine 2 diet for health reasons and I often need to make a request on how I would like things prepared (no added oil or leave out a certain ingredient). What has happened is that I have a few go-to places where I know my requests are accommodated easily. Not only that, but because I visit these place more frequently and tend to order the same thing each time I often feel like I'm getting special treatment, which makes me happy. They seem genuinely glad to see me and go out of their way to prepare my food to my liking. Shiraz at Hurstbourne & Shelbyville is a standout in this department, as is Hunan Wok in Fern Creek. The treatment balances out the dietary limitations.

I'm NOT giving up meat, sorry. Each to their own beliefs, but I believe we need meat.

We just ask everywhere, and have found few places that can't accommodate us! Some are surprising (that's how we found that the Chinese Tea Room will do almost any dish you want made any way you want!), and actually that's part of the reason we still eat at the occasional chain (most can do no-salt with ease, as they are set up for "problem diners").

In general, places can steer us to those items with lower salt, and wait staff are surprisingly knowledgeable; where they don't know or appear to be guessing, we just ask to check with the chef as to what we should order if we are on restricted salt intakes.

I'm NOT giving up meat, sorry. Each to their own beliefs, but I believe we need meat.

It's just my opinion, but one of the biggest mistakes is assuming one type of diet works best for everyone. For some folks, cutting carbs, especially sugars and refined grains, is more effective than a low fat diet.

Look into the low card and paleo stuff to see if it works for you.

Here's the Protein Power guy, for example.

Agree with Steve- the refined sugars and simple carbs are real killers. Salt is really hard to avoid, but citrus sauces are great substitutes. My husband is a robot 2:1 HDLs, Triglycerides 60. I am on 2 medications for high BP. My belief is that if you eat really well 85 % of the time (which you can do at home) you can have a splurge on occasion. Cooking Light, Eating Well all have great websites and recipes. Diet alone isn't enough, start a good walking or exercise program.

Guys...sorry, but this isn't about being on a "diet" to lose weight. I was specifically told to cut down the sodium in my diet.

[Robin Garr]

Guys...sorry, but this isn't about being on a "diet" to lose weight. I was specifically told to cut down the sodium in my diet.

A good point. The short answer is, I've never found a good restaurant that won't be okay with a simple request to put something on the side. Unless it's a chain getting its food in packaged frozen portions ready to be popped in the microwave.

Maybe an alternative approach might be to drop by a few of your favorite places during non-rush hours and engage management in a friendly conversation about what they can do?

I'm NOT giving up meat, sorry. Each to their own beliefs, but I believe we need meat.

I wasn't going to jump in on this one, but I have to add my two cents. I'm not telling you what to do, but your belief that "we need meat" has no basis in science.

Sorry, as a scientist, I couldn't let that go unchallenged. Humans simply don't need it. I've been vegetarian since 1994, have run 9 marathons, still spar competitively (karate) against people half my age, etc, etc, all without meat. Typical doctor comment when I go in for a checkup is "nice biceps" or something like that. All three of my boys are vegetarian, and extremely active in sports and doing well in school. My middle boy is at 97th percentile for height and weight on the growth charts. Anecdotal, but really, meat is a personal preference, not a "need." Maybe thousands of years ago when humans hunted for survival, but not in 2012 in the US.

P.S. for your heart health, something like Dr. Dean Ornish's dietary regime would do wonders for you. He backs up his diet with scientific studies in real medical journals. http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=diet&dbid=5 Keep it in the back of your mind at least.

Respectfully,

P.S. for your heart health, something like Dr. Dean Ornish's dietary regime would do wonders for you. He backs up his diet with scientific studies in real medical journals. http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=diet&dbid=5 Keep it in the back of your mind at least.

Respectfully,

I respectfully disagree.

There are studies all over the map on this. And results of followup studies often are inconclusive or even refute the original. The apparent overlooked logically fallacy seems to be the assumption that the same diet works for everyone. And clearly this is not true. You can look at how individuals have various levels of tolerance for even common foods like wheat and dairy.

Certainly, folks should try a vegetarian diet if they are so inclined. They might certainly thrive on it. But, their metabolism might just require meat for optimal health and it would be a shame if this possibility is never considered.

I've had to switch to a heart healthy diet on orders of Dr. Ursula (you do NOT 2nd guess Dr. Ursula). After researching I've basically found that you have to personally prepare 85-90% of your intake and get the rest from restaurants, etc. Otherwise it just doesn't work. Even "good" restaurants will load you up with sodium and oils. Fortunately I like to cook and I make my own salt substitute blends from bulk spices.

P.S. for your heart health, something like Dr. Dean Ornish's dietary regime would do wonders for you. He backs up his diet with scientific studies in real medical journals. http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=diet&dbid=5 Keep it in the back of your mind at least.

Respectfully,

I respectfully disagree.

There are studies all over the map on this. And results of followup studies often are inconclusive or even refute the original. The apparent overlooked logically fallacy seems to be the assumption that the same diet works for everyone. And clearly this is not true. You can look at how individuals have various levels of tolerance for even common foods like wheat and dairy.

Certainly, folks should try a vegetarian diet if they are so inclined. They might certainly thrive on it. But, their metabolism might just require meat for optimal health and it would be a shame if this possibility is never considered.

Steve,

You're propagating a myth. You say studies are all over the map on this, so cite me a study or two that says what you're claiming: that someone's metabolism requires meat for optimal health. Ridiculous claim. Show me some study that says switching to a vegetarian diet reduces somenone's health. (of course, we'll exclude a straight up junk candy diet that some teenagers and such may attempt). The fact is, humans don't need meat in their diet, and while it does provide nutrients, of course, the same nutrients can be obtained from a plant-based diet.

P.S. for your heart health, something like Dr. Dean Ornish's dietary regime would do wonders for you. He backs up his diet with scientific studies in real medical journals. http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=diet&dbid=5 Keep it in the back of your mind at least.

Respectfully,

I respectfully disagree.

There are studies all over the map on this. And results of followup studies often are inconclusive or even refute the original. The apparent overlooked logically fallacy seems to be the assumption that the same diet works for everyone. And clearly this is not true. You can look at how individuals have various levels of tolerance for even common foods like wheat and dairy.

Certainly, folks should try a vegetarian diet if they are so inclined. They might certainly thrive on it. But, their metabolism might just require meat for optimal health and it would be a shame if this possibility is never considered.

Steve,

You're propagating a myth. You say studies are all over the map on this, so cite me a study or two that says what you're claiming: that someone's metabolism requires meat for optimal health. Ridiculous claim. Show me some study that says switching to a vegetarian diet reduces somenone's health. (of course, we'll exclude a straight up junk candy diet that some teenagers and such may attempt). The fact is, humans don't need meat in their diet, and while it does provide nutrients, of course, the same nutrients can be obtained from a plant-based diet.

Hey. You are the one making a universal assertion, not me!

My main point is that different people probably have different nutritional requirements. So, folks should find a diet that works for them. Accepting a one size fits all diet is not acceptable.

It is common knowledge that tolerance of and affinity to diets including wheat, dairy, alcohol, and seafood vary across populations. Why wouldn't tolerance and affinity to beef, poultry, and pork also vary across populations. Have you looked any nutritional studies that control for different ethnic groups?

In America it's even more complicated because of the melting pot nature of our country. What effects does this have on the affinity to and tolerance of various foods? What about me, Scots-Irish/German/Native American/who-knows-what? What's the diet I'm perfectly adapted to?

Isn't it a little arrogant to assert that you have the perfect diet figured out for everybody? Especially given the huge amount of genetic variation?

Like I said, the biggest flaw in nutrition science is the Holy-Grail like search for the perfect diet for everyone. Most the government programs and science start with that assumption and go from there. I think it is seriously misguided.

I'm glad you found a diet that works for you and your family, who likely share a very similar genome. Perhaps you shouldn't be too quick to generalize that success to a universal truth.

Guys...sorry, but this isn't about being on a "diet" to lose weight. I was specifically told to cut down the sodium in my diet.

I can make no assertions or recommendations about this. But here is an interesting article on the state of salt in the diet.