Keeping your heart strong and healthy is essential because men are twice as likely to suffer a heart attack than women. ​​Fortunately, simple lifestyle choices like healthy eating and getting active can help prevent up to 80% of premature heart disease and stroke.

As a Registered Dietitian at TELUS Health MyCare™, I often get asked what foods men should eat to reduce their risk of a heart attack or stroke. So, let’s start by exploring why healthy eating minimizes that risk.

The connection between diet and heart health

To understand why healthy eating can reduce your risk of heart attack, it’s important to know what causes a heart attack.

A heart attack happens when an artery that sends blood and oxygen to the heart becomes blocked, and the heart can’t get enough oxygen. 

In most cases, fat, cholesterol and other substances build up over time, forming plaque in your arteries. When plaque ruptures, it can cause a blood clot. This can block blood flow to your heart, causing a heart attack. If the blood that flows to your brain is blocked, it causes a stroke.

Healthy eating reduces your risk of a heart attack for several reasons, including:

  • Keeps cholesterol levels in check: High LDL cholesterol (often called “bad” cholesterol) causes fatty deposits in your blood vessels, making it difficult for enough blood to flow through your arteries to your heart.
  • Helps regulate blood pressure: High blood pressure (also known as hypertension) can damage your arteries, decreasing blood flow and oxygen to your heart.
  • Reduces inflammation: Certain foods create chronic inflammation inside your body. Inflammation promotes the growth of the plaque that forms in your arteries.
  • Weight management: Obesity can lead to fatty material building up in your arteries. 

Foods that lower your risk of a heart attack

Vegetables and fruits 

Veggies and fruits are packed with fibre, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Fibre promotes fullness and helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels. The “good” kind of cholesterol (HDL) helps to remove excess cholesterol from your body. Fresh and frozen veggies and fruits are great options.

Tip: Aim to include at least half a plate of vegetables and fruits with your meals. 

Nuts, Seeds and Legumes 

Nuts (like almonds, pecans, walnuts) and legumes (like beans and lentils) are excellent plant-based protein sources. They are fibre-rich and lack the saturated fat in some animal-based proteins. Legumes also keep you full longer and help to maintain healthy cholesterol levels.

Tips: Dried and canned beans are good choices. Rinse the canned beans with water as you prepare your meals to lower your salt intake. Eat legumes more often by trying one or two meatless days during the week. Aim to fill up one-quarter of your plate with legumes.

Whole grains 

Whole grains are nutrient-dense with vitamins and minerals and are good sources of fibre. Unlike refined grains, where parts of the grain and its nutrients are removed during processing, whole grains offer the complete package and their full benefits.

Examples of whole grains include steel-cut and rolled oats, quinoa, barley, and brown rice. Certain whole grains, like oats and barley, are rich in soluble fibre; eating these grains may be linked to a lowered risk of heart disease.

Tip: Aim to fill your plate with ÂĽ of whole grains more often. 

Fish and seafood

Fatty fish like salmon, trout, mackerel, and sardines are low in saturated fat and rich in omega-3 fats that protect the heart by slowing plaque buildup in arteries.

Tip: Aim to fill ÂĽ of your plate with fish and seafood.  

Plant-based oils 

Not all plant-based oils are created equal; some cooking oils, such as extra virgin olive oil and avocado oil, have healthy monounsaturated fats that could help lower the “bad” cholesterol (LDL) levels. 

Tip: Focusing on the type of cooking oils and fats you include is as important as the amount you eat long-term.

Heart-healthy dessert options

chocolate chia seed pudding

Simple desserts made at home with fruit and minimal added sugar are best. Here are some ideas:

  • Apple berry crumble (go easy on the butter and sugar)
  • Greek yogurt in place of ice cream/whipping cream
  • Homemade cookies with oats, nuts and dried fruit
  • Peanut butter chocolate oat bites
  • Cinnamon-baked pears with toasted walnuts
  • Chocolate chia or chocolate avocado pudding

Foods that may increase your risk

Too much salt, saturated fat and overly processed foods should be eaten in moderation. You can still enjoy these foods occasionally, as no one food will cause or prevent a heart attack. 

Red meat, such as beef and lamb, has higher levels of saturated fat than poultry, like chicken and turkey. Eating too much saturated fat can raise the LDL cholesterol (aka the “bad” cholesterol), increasing the risk of heart disease. 

The risk for heart disease doubles when a diet consists of too much processed meat, such as pepperoni and bacon. This significant increase is largely due to salt, one of the contributing factors to high blood pressure. Again, moderation is key here.

Most effective dietary changes after a heart attack  

latino family cooking together

If you have experienced a heart attack, you likely already know eating well will minimize future problems.

There is no need to avoid one or more foods entirely. Adjust your diet by making some of these small changes.

  • Prepare more meals at home so you can take charge of the amount of salt, sugar, fats, and oils added.
  • Hold the salt by prepping meals with herbs and spices more often.
  • Increase your vegetable and fruit intake; make it a habit to include at least half a plate of vegetables and fruits with meals.
  • Choose plant-based foods more often: veggies, fruits, nuts and seeds, legumes, tofu, soy, whole grains, and extra virgin olive oil.
  • Swap foods high in saturated fat, like red meats, processed meats, and butter, for foods with healthier unsaturated fats, like fish, avocados, olive oil, seeds and nuts.
  • Eat fewer foods made with refined carbohydrates, such as cookies, pastries, juice, chips, and pop and opt for foods made with whole grains more often.

What’s your heart attack risk level?

The Canadian Men’s Health Foundation offers a free tool called Men’s Health Check to help predict your future health for common men’s health conditions–like heart attack–by evaluating your physical stats, lifestyle, and family history.

In 10 minutes, this risk assessment tool will generate a free personalized report that shows your risk level for 8 of the most common health conditions affecting Canadian men.

The bottom line

There is no one specific food or diet plan to prevent a heart attack or stroke. Focus on introducing one or two changes at a time and slowly add more. 

If you’d like to learn more about how to take charge of your diet, contact a Telus Health MyCare dietitian, who can help you reach your heart health goals.

What do you think about healthy desserts? Yay or nay? Share in the comments below.


Learn your risk level for the most common men’s health conditions in 10 minutes with a free, confidential, and personalized report.