I have had the pleasure of working with a Registered Dietitian specializing in cardiac rehab for the past few months and I thought it would be helpful to pass on some of the great tips she shares with her patients.

1. Try to limit your intake of “bad fats”. Those would be the trans and saturated fats that contribute to atherosclerosis, high cholesterol and heart disease. Instead look to integrate more “good fats” (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated) into your diet. You can find good fats in olive oil, nut butters, almonds, fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, herring), avocado, flaxseed, safflower/sunflower/peanut oil…just to name a few.

2. Eat a rainbow!! This essentially means that each time you stop to eat a meal or snack, there should be an array of colors (green, red, orange, yellow, purple, blue, white, etc.) on your plate. This ensures that you are getting a wide variety of  the necessary vitamins and minerals.

3. Eat more: fruits and vegetables, complex carbohydrates and fiber.

4. Eat less: sodium, simple carbohydrates and cholesterol.

5. Remember to always be adequately hydrated with calorie-free drinks: Water!!!, teas, coffee, flavored seltzer, etc.