Nutritional advice for the heart: Eat with pleasure, reduce risks

Nutritional advice for your heart is one of the most effective and sustainable steps you can take to actively improve your cardiovascular health and positively influence risk factors such as cholesterol and blood pressure. The right diet is one of the most powerful „medicines“ available to us - only without side effects. In our cardiology practice in Düsseldorf, the Nutritional advice for the heart an integral part of the holistic care provided by Dr. Raphael Bruno. We will show you how you can protect your heart with a tasty, scientifically based diet that is suitable for everyday use.

Why nutrition is so important for your heart

Every meal we eat is a decision for or against our health. The food we eat has a direct and measurable impact on the key risk factors for cardiovascular disease:

Blood lipid values: The type of fats in our diet significantly determines the level of „bad“ LDL cholesterol.
Blood pressure: In particular, the intake of salt (sodium) and potassium has a direct influence on blood pressure.¹
Blood sugar: A diet high in sugar and carbohydrates can lead to insulin resistance and diabetes.
Inflammatory processes: Certain foods promote chronic, „silent“ inflammation in the blood vessels, while others have an anti-inflammatory effect.
Body weight: An unbalanced diet is the main cause of obesity, which puts additional strain on the heart.

A targeted Nutritional advice for the heart addresses precisely these points in order to treat the causes and not just the symptoms.

The basis of our nutritional advice for the heart: the Mediterranean diet

When it comes to a heart-healthy diet, the scientific evidence is clear: traditional Mediterranean cuisine is the gold standard. It is not a short-term diet, but a long-term diet that has been proven to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. In our Nutritional advice for the heart we translate the principles of this diet into your personal everyday life.

The scientifically proven benefits of the Mediterranean diet:

It effectively lowers harmful LDL cholesterol.
It improves blood pressure values.
It has an anti-inflammatory effect and protects the inner walls of the blood vessels (endothelium).
It stabilizes blood sugar and prevents diabetes.
It supports a healthy body weight.

Cardiac nutritional advice for specific diseases: Cholesterol and high blood pressure

As part of the Nutritional advice for the heart we specifically address your individual risk factors.

For high cholesterol: We will show you how you can increase your HDL (good cholesterol) and lower your LDL cholesterol naturally through the targeted use of soluble fiber (from oats, legumes), plant sterols and the replacement of saturated fats with unsaturated fats (olive oil, nuts, avocados).
For high blood pressure: The focus here is on a low-salt diet. We give you practical tips on how you can replace salt with herbs and spices and where „salt traps“ are hidden in ready-made products. At the same time, a diet rich in potassium (lots of fruit and vegetables) is crucial for lowering blood pressure.²

How a medical nutrition consultation for the heart works

Our Nutritional advice for the heart is a structured and partnership-based process.

Analysis: First, we analyze your current eating habits and your laboratory values (cholesterol, blood sugar, etc.).
Objective: Together, we define realistic and achievable goals for you. It's not about perfection, but about gradual and sustainable improvement.
Knowledge transfer: We explain the scientific context so that you understand, Why certain changes make sense.
Practice plan: We will provide you with concrete, everyday tips, shopping lists and recipe ideas that will make it easier for you to implement them.
Follow-up: In follow-up appointments, we discuss your progress, clarify any questions that arise and adjust the strategy if necessary.

Heart nutrition advice: More than just prohibitions - enjoyment and variety

A heart-healthy diet does not mean doing without and eating bland food.³ On the contrary: it is colorful, diverse and full of flavor. It's about discovering the abundance of healthy and tasty foods and gradually replacing unhealthy habits. The following „traffic light“ serves as a simple guide.

The food traffic light for your heart

Green (enjoy abundantly)	Yellow (in moderation)	Red (rare and in small quantities)
Vegetables of all kinds, salad, pulses, fruit (especially berries), wholegrain products, nuts, seeds, herbs, olive oil, rapeseed oil, fish.	White meat (poultry), eggs, low-fat dairy products.	Red meat (beef, pork), sausages, butter, palm oil, sugar, sweets, white flour products, fast food, sugary drinks.

Frequently asked questions about nutritional advice for the heart

Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions about heart-healthy nutrition.

Do I have to give up salt completely?

No, it is not necessary to go without completely, nor is it healthy. What is needed is a significant reduction. The German Nutrition Society recommends a maximum of 5-6 grams of salt per day.⁴ You can make the biggest savings by avoiding highly processed convenience products and replacing salt with herbs and spices when cooking.

Aren't fats generally bad for the heart?

No, that's an outdated myth. It depends on the type of fat. Unsaturated fatty acids from vegetable oils, nuts, avocados and fish are essential for heart health. The saturated fats from animal products and the industrial trans fats in many ready-made products are particularly harmful. A good Nutritional advice for the heart differentiates precisely here.

What about food supplements such as omega-3 capsules?

The best source of omega-3 fatty acids is and remains oily fish.⁵ High-dose omega-3 capsules can be useful as medication in certain cases (e.g. very high triglyceride levels). However, a blanket intake for heart prevention is no longer recommended for the general public. We will advise you within the scope of the Nutritional advice for the heart individually.

I don't have time to cook. How can I still eat a heart-healthy diet?

A heart-healthy diet is also possible with little time. Go for simple, quick meals: a large mixed salad with beans and tuna, wholemeal bread with avocado and vegetables, yoghurt with oats and berries. A good Nutritional advice for the heart gives you practical tips for this too.

Can I stop taking my cholesterol tablets with diet alone?

In the case of slightly elevated values, a consistent change in diet can sometimes be sufficient. However, in the case of very high values or an overall high cardiovascular risk, drug therapy is usually indispensable in order to achieve the necessary low target values. Diet is then the extremely important basis that supports drug therapy.

Is a glass of red wine a day good for the heart?

This assumption has been scientifically refuted. Alcohol has potential risks even in small quantities (e.g. promoting arrhythmia and high blood pressure). From a medical point of view, there is no reason to start drinking wine to protect your heart.⁶ If you drink alcohol, then in moderation.

I hardly eat any eggs, but my cholesterol is still high. Why is that?

For most people, dietary cholesterol has only a minor influence on blood cholesterol levels. The body produces most of the cholesterol itself, and this production is strongly genetically regulated. This is why your cholesterol can be too high even on a low cholesterol diet. A good Nutritional advice for the heart explains these connections to you.

Does a change in diet work quickly?

Yes, the effects can often be measured surprisingly quickly. After just a few weeks of consistent dietary changes, significant improvements in blood pressure and cholesterol levels can often be detected in the laboratory. This is a great motivating factor to stick with it in the long term.

What do you think of low-carb or keto diets for heart health?

These diets can lead to weight loss and improved blood sugar levels in the short term. In the long term, however, they are often very high in saturated animal fats, which causes LDL cholesterol to rise sharply in many people. In our Nutritional advice for the heart we therefore recommend the more balanced and better-studied Mediterranean diet.

Where can I find a qualified contact person for nutritional advice for the heart in Düsseldorf?

A medical Nutritional advice for the heart should ideally be carried out by a cardiologist with expertise in preventive medicine. As a certified lipidologist (DGFF®), Dr. Raphael Bruno in Düsseldorf is your ideal partner for developing a scientifically sound nutritional strategy that is tailored to your medical findings.

Your path to a heart-healthy diet starts here

Changing your diet is one of the most effective decisions you can make for your health. Let an expert guide you through the process. A professional Nutritional advice for the heart in our practice gives you the necessary knowledge, practical guidance and motivation to achieve your goals - enjoyably and sustainably. Make an appointment for a consultation.