Heart Failure - Keeping to a Healthy Diet

A healthy diet and healthy eating habits will help you attain a healthy weight and improve your heart health.


In addition to watching how much fluid and salt you take in, a healthy diet is also important for you to have a healthy heart.

Excess body weight adds strain to your heart. So, keep within your desirable body mass index (BMI), which is 18.5 – 22.9 for Asian adults. This is calculated as your weight in kilograms divided by the square of your height in metres.

You should aim to achieve a healthy BMI, ideally between 18.5 – 22.9

BMI (for adults)
Risk of Heart Disease and Diabetes
​27.5 & above
​High Risk
​23.0 - 27.4
​Moderate Risk
​18.5 - 22.9
​Low Risk (healthy range)
Less than 18.5​Risk of nutritional deficiency diseases and osteoporosis​

Steps to a Healthy Diet

  1. Eat less fat
    • o Take less fat in your diet to help reduce your cholesterol level as well as to help you maintain a healthy weight
    • Choose the healthier types of fat (unsaturated fats such as olive oil, corn oil and sunflower oil instead of saturated such as coconut oil)
  2. Eat less cholesterol-rich food
    • A diet that is high in cholesterol and high in fats, especially saturated fats, may increase blood cholesterol levels
    • Avoid egg yolks, organ meats, seafood (e.g. squid) as they contain high amounts of dietary cholesterol
  3. Eat more fibre
    • A high fibre diet (particularly soluble fibre) will improve your blood cholesterol level
    • Good sources of fibre are vegetables, fruits and whole grains
  4. Eat less sugar
    • A diet high in sugar can contribute to weight gain
    • Speak to your dietitian about your dietary requirements and find out more about how you can keep to a healthy diet

Excessive weight loss may also be harmful in patients with heart failure. Do inform your case/care manager, nurse or doctor if you are losing weight drastically.

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