Summary of American Heart Association Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations Revision 2006

mendations is a critical component of the AHA’s strategy for cardiovascular disease risk reduction in the general popula-tion. Specific goals are to consume an overall healthy diet; aim for a healthy body weight; aim for recommended levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipopro-tein cholesterol, and triglycerides; aim for normal blood pressure; aim for a normal blood glucose level; be physically active; and avoid use of and exposure to tobacco products. The recommendations are to balance caloric intake and physical activity to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight; consume a diet rich in vegetables and fruits; choose whole-grain, high-fiber foods; consume fish, especially oily fish, at least twice a week; limit intake of saturated fat to 7 % of energy, trans fat to 1 % of energy, and cholesterol to 300 mg/d by choosing lean meats and vegetable alter-