Last Updated: March 2024

A healthy eating pattern and regular physical activity can help keep your heart strong and your blood vessels healthy. Whether you are trying to prevent heart disease and control blood pressure, or you already have a heart condition, these resources are for you.

Eating for Heart Health

What you eat is important for the health of your heart. Learn more:

• Heart Healthy Eating (HealthLinkBC File #68a)
• Heart-Healthy Eating
• Heart-Healthy Eating: Fish and Fish Oil
• Heart-Healthy Lifestyle
• Healthy Eating: Eating Heart-Healthy Foods
• High Cholesterol: How a Dietitian Can Help
• Healthy Diet Guidelines for a Healthy Heart
• Izzy's Story: Living with the DASH Diet
• Modify Recipes for a Heart-Healthy Diet
• Plant-based Diet Guidelines

Exercise for Heart Health

Being active is good for your heart. If you have a medical condition, check with your health care provider or a qualified exercise professional before becoming more active. Learn more about being active for a healthy heart:

• Cardiac Rehabilitation
• Coronary Artery Disease: Exercising for a Healthy Heart
• Exercising to Prevent Stroke
• Heart Arrhythmias and Exercise
• Heart Health: Walking for a Healthy Heart
• Physical Activity Helps Prevent Heart Attack and Stroke
• Peripheral Arterial Disease and Exercise

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, can damage your blood vessels, heart and kidneys. Learn how you can help prevent or manage high blood pressure.

• DASH Diet Sample Menu
• High Blood Pressure: Nutrition Tips
• High Blood Pressure: Using the DASH Diet
• Lifestyle Steps to Lower Your Blood Pressure (HealthLinkBC File #68b)

Low Sodium Eating

Eating too much sodium can increase the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.

• Food Sources of Sodium
• Healthy Eating Guidelines for Lower Sodium Eating

Heart Failure

Heart failure occurs when your heart isn't pumping blood strongly enough for your body to get the oxygen and nutrients it needs. If you have heart failure, a healthy lifestyle can help you feel your best. Learn more about living with heart failure:

• Enjoying Life When You Have Heart Failure
• Heart Failure: Eating a Healthy Diet
• Heart Failure: Track Your Weight, Food and Sodium

Warfarin and vitamin K

Warfarin, also known as Coumadin®, is a blood thinner medication that helps prevent blood clots. If you take warfarin, it is important to keep eating the same amount of vitamin K foods that you usually do, and not suddenly eat a lot more or a lot less. Learn more:

• Healthy Eating Guidelines for People Taking Warfarin Anticoagulants (Coumadin®)
• Food Sources of Vitamin K
• Warfarin and Vitamin K

Heart & Stroke Foundation

The Heart and Stroke Foundation is a Canadian organization that provides information on heart disease and stroke, including information on heart healthy eating, physical activity, and heart healthy recipes.