Food can be a major source of nutrition, or it can be a source of disease. When trying to figure out a lifestyle diet, it is important to consider what will keep your vascular system healthy and happy.

If you are struggling with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) or cardiovascular disease, lowering your intake of saturated fats is a good place to start regaining a healthy lifestyle. Typically, you want to limit such fats to no more than 5 to 6 percent of your caloric daily intake. 

Avoiding trans fats is particularly important. If you walk down any aisle at any supermarket, you will find these trans fats or partially hydrogenated oils in snacks, cookies, and baked goods. This can be misleading because a snack product can be low in fat, but if it is made with partially hydrogenated oil, it is not a healthy choice despite the low-fat content.

Reducing your daily sodium intake to 1.5 grams and increasing your daily fiber intake to at least 30 grams are two good goals for a healthy diet. 

These types of changes will reduce your cholesterol and blood pressure, which will improve your vascular health.

The American Heart Association has recommendations for diets aimed at improving cardiovascular disease.

The Mediterranean diet focuses on increasing an individual’s HDL—a/k/a the “good” cholesterol. This diet consists of olive oil, legumes, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, nuts, and fatty fish. Dietitians often recommend this to their PAD patients.

The DASH diet is another dietitian favorite for PAD patients. This diet focuses on sodium and fat restrictions. It also completely limits alcohol intake. There is evidence that the DASH diet will not only lower blood pressure but improve cardiovascular conditions and reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease processes.

A low carbohydrate diet coupled with a low-fat diet is frequently promoted to patients afflicted with PAD. The aim of this type of diet is to reduce the “bad” cholesterol and increase the “good” cholesterol. When cholesterol levels are at an optimal and healthful level, this not only benefits people with PAD, but it dramatically decreases the probability for cardiovascular disease as well. So, it is a win-win all around!

Before embarking on any diet, it is wise to speak with your vascular doctor or your primary care physician (PCP) to inquire about dietary support and assistance. Your doctors can work together to help you improve what you eat, thereby improving your health and lifestyle.