Biting into a juicy watermelon or having a glass of cold beetroot juice may sound like a healthy way of beating the heat but a group of cardiologists is now listing these fruits and vegetables as “avoidable high-salt foods”, particularly for those with high blood pressure.

A panel of doctors from the Chennai chapter of the Cardiologists Society of India has been working on ’10 commandments for heart-healthy homes’ based on an outline from the parent body. “We are localising the content based on the culture and behaviour. We have some common guidelines on smoking, stress and exercise but we will be localising those related to diet. We will be listing out south Indian foods that are heart-healthy, some that should be taken in moderation, and a few that should be avoided particularly if a person has conditions like diabetes or hypertension,” said CSI (Chennai-chapter) president Dr K Kannan, professor of cardiology, Stanley Medical College and Hospital.
Eggs, lobsters, cauliflower, beetroot, water melon, prawns, beef, chicken and lettuce, having more than 50mg of sodium per 100g of serving, are listed as “avoidable” high-salt foods. “These should be taken in moderation by healthy people and should be avoided by those with risk factors like hypertension,” he said.

Raisins, broad beans, carrot, apple, pineapple, banana, dhals, lentils and mutton have medium protein content and should be taken in moderation by those with risk factors. But the list may differ for people with diabetes as a risk factor. Low-sodium foods like grapes and sapota have high sugar. “One important thing we ask diabetics not to have is porridge. They tend to digest foods very fast and porridge increases glycaemic index,” he said.

Non-communicable diseases account for nearly 50% of deaths across the country, of which cardiac ailments contribute a significant number. In October 2015, Cardiologists Society of India told the state chapters to initiate a campaign to promote healthy hearts at homes.

The TN chapter has been working with a panel of doctors to bring out guidelines that will be circulated as posters and fliers to doctors across the state. “We haven’t given ourselves a stringent deadline because we know it will take a long time to compile but we are planning to complete it as early as possible,” said Dr Kannan.

Public health experts and senior cardiologists say such guidelines will help people maintain good health. Doctors’ bodies in many countries like the US have been able to reduce risk substantially with their campaigns, particularly against smoking, salt and sugar intakes. “On most occasions, we tell patients the importance of exercise and eating healthy . They then have a session with the dietician. But a detailed guideline in the form of a flier or booklet will help many patients,” said Dr TR Muralidharan, professor and head of cardiology , Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Chennai / by Pushpa Narayan / TNN / June 05th, 2016