South Indian Diet Plan for Heart Patients

June 22 08:13 2020 Print This Article

Indian food is by itself very healthy. Our traditional Indian diet pattern is filled with vegetables, fruits, lentils, nuts and whole grains making the meal extremely heart healthy. Indeed, there is no need to look elsewhere for healthy food or incorporate fancy foodstuffs like olive oil or avocados for a healthy diet. We have everything that we need right here in our country – locally grown, fresh and healthy!

The Important Role Diet Plays

Exercise, diet and lifestyle patterns all play a significant role in keeping a person’s heart healthy. A healthy diet can reduce the risk of a person developing a heart disease by 35%, and the risk is further diminished by 70% when the person follows a good lifestyle as well. It is to be kept in mind that working out alone is not enough and following a proper diet is of paramount importance.

So, what are the benefits of following a healthy diet?

1. The workload on the heart is reduced
2. Cholesterol levels improve
3. Better blood pressure and blood sugar control are achieved
4. Appearance and self-confidence both receive a boost

A Sample Diet Plan for Heart Patients

What constitutes a healthy diet for heart patients? Are patients at risk of heart disease doomed to a life of bland food and boring diet choices? Of course not! Indian food options with their plethora of flavours, colours and choices definitely rule out a monotonous diet plan.

Let us take a look at a cardiac diet plan which is tasty and satiating as well.

Meal 1: As Soon as You Wake Up

Start your day with nuts – maybe around 4-6 almonds and 2 walnuts. Follow this up with a glass of warm water with a few drops of lemon juice. Drinking coffee or tea as soon as you wake up (on an empty stomach) is best avoided.

Calorie Count:

6 almonds – 42 kcal

2 walnuts – 18 kcal

Meal 2: Breakfast

For breakfast, two oats idlis with mint chutney are a good option. Oats are good antioxidants, and they help in reducing cholesterol. Alternatively, you could also have a cup of upma cooked with green peas. Peas being rich in potassium are very good for the heart.

For a non-vegetarian breakfast option, 2 egg whites cooked in any way preferable (except fried) with 2 slices of brown bread are a good choice.

Calorie Count:

1 oats idli – 30 kcal

1 tablespoon of mint chutney – 12 kcal

1 cup of upma – 192 kcal

1 egg white – 17 kcal

1 slice of brown bread – 74 kcal

Meal 3: Mid-Morning

Now would be a good time to have a fruit. An apple, orange or guava would be a good choice. A glass of tender coconut water besides being healthy would be tasty and refreshing as well and is a good mid-morning thirst quencher.

Calorie Count:

1 fruit is typically around 50-70 kcal

1 cup of tender coconut water – 45 kcal

Meal 1: As Soon as You Wake up

6 almonds – 42 kcal
2 walnuts – 18 kcal

Meal 2: Breakfast

1 oats idli – 30 kcal
1 tablespoon of mint chutney – 12 kcal
1 cup of upma – 192 kcal
1 egg white – 17 kcal
1 slice of brown bread – 74 kcal

Meal 3 - Mid-Morning

1 fruit is typically around 50-70 kcal
1 cup of tender coconut water – 45 kcal

Meal 4: Lunch

1 cup of cooked brown rice – 216 kcal
1 bowl of raita – 75 kcal
1 bowl of salad – 30 kcal
1 chapati – 80-120 kcal depending on size
1 bowl of sambhar – 130 kcal
1 bowl of cooked vegetable – 70 kcal
100 g of chicken – 165 kcal
100 g of fish – 109 kcal

Meal 5: Evening Snack

1 cup of buttermilk – 99 kcal
1 cup of Red Rice Flakes – 100 kcal
1 cup of diced watermelon – 46 kcal

Meal 6: Dinner

1 bowl of whole-grain upma – 240 kcal
1 bowl of sambhar – 130 kcal
1 bowl of cooked dhaal – 104 kcal
1 multigrain roti – 135 kcal
1 glass of skim milk – 108 kcal

Meal 4: Lunch

Vegetable pulao/biryani made with brown rice accompanied by a cucumber-carrot-onion raitha and a bowl of mixed vegetable salad will not only be filled with flavour but will fill the stomach as well. Another meal option would be 3 medium-sized chapatis with dhal or drumstick sambhar. This can be enjoyed with a cooked vegetable of choice and a salad.

For a non-vegetarian option, replace the dhal with chicken or fish. It can be in the grilled or curry form but not fried.

Calorie Count:

1 cup of cooked brown rice – 216 kcal

1 bowl of raita – 75 kcal

1 bowl of salad – 30 kcal

1 chapati – 80-120 kcal depending on size

1 bowl of sambhar – 130 kcal

1 bowl of cooked vegetable – 70 kcal

100 g of chicken – 165 kcal

100 g of fish – 109 kcal

Meal 5: Evening Snack

A glass of buttermilk is extremely tasty and healthy. For diabetics, sugar is best avoided, and plain buttermilk is preferable. If something solid is preferred, then a cup of red rice flakes or a fruit (like watermelon) can be had.

Calorie Count:

1 cup of buttermilk – 99 kcal

1 cup of red rice flakes – 100 kcal

1 cup of diced watermelon – 46 kcal

Meal 6: Dinner

The last meal of the day is best had early and light – a bowl of whole grain upma or kichidi with vegetable sambhar is a good choice. Alternatively, 2 multi-grain rotis and cooked dhal can also be had. To avoid hunger pangs before sleeping, a glass of skimmed milk (without sugar) with a bit of turmeric in it is recommended.

Calorie Count:

1 bowl of whole grain upma – 240 kcal

1 bowl of sambhar – 130 kcal

1 bowl of cooked dhal – 104 kcal

1 multigrain roti – 135 kcal

1 glass of skimmed milk – 108 kcal

Note: This is a sample cardiac diet plan. Be sure to consult a doctor and get a diet plan customized according to your requirements.

A Few Pointers to Keep in Mind

• Add fenugreek seeds to your food whenever possible. Besides reducing cholesterol, fenugreek is considered good for the heart.
• For hard core non-vegetarians, lean meat, fish and chicken can be had but consumption should be limited to 2 servings a day.
• Choose food that is rich in vitamins, iron and carbohydrates and low in cholesterol and fat. Trans fats increase your bad cholesterol levels (LDL) while heart healthy foods boost your good cholesterol levels (HDL).
• Choose cooking oil that is rich in essential fatty acids. Our Indian cooking oils, whichever are available in the market, are all good choices. Go for a variety of oils – for example, if you are using groundnut oil or sesame oil, replace it with sunflower oil during your next buy.
• Limit salt intake to around 2 mg. This might sound difficult but indeed it is for the best and you will get used to it with time.
• Stop junk food completely. A fruit is always preferred to chips and other snacks when hunger strikes between meals.
• Avoid eating outside. Home cooked food made with fresh local produce is always the best choice.
• Use brown rice rather than white rice. Control portion size.
• Eat foods in their most naturally occurring state. Choose fresh fruits rather than canned fruits or juice. Raw foods contain more fibre than processed ones.
• Coconut should be avoided.
• Spices have anti-lipidemic effects. They reduce LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
• Replace large meals with small, frequent meals.
• Chew and enjoy the food you eat because properly chewed food is easier to digest.

Remember, you are what you eat. Make healthy diet choices and enjoy a healthy and happy life!

FAQs on South Indian Diet for Heart Patients & Cardiac Health

Q1. What is the best diet for heart disease patients in South India?

A balanced South Indian cardiac diet with vegetables, fruits, lentils, whole grains, and nuts is ideal. It supports heart health and lowers disease risk.

Q2. What does a healthy diet for heart patients include?

Meals such as oats idli, upma, brown rice, dhal, and salads form a nutritious diet for heart patients. Non-veg options like grilled chicken or fish are allowed in moderation.

Q3. Can a diet for CVD patients include rice?

Yes. A diet for CVD patients can include brown rice instead of white rice. Portion control with sambhar, vegetables, or salads keeps meals heart friendly.

Q4. What foods should be avoided in a cardiac diet?

Heart disease food diet guidelines suggest avoiding coconut, fried foods, junk snacks, excess salt, and trans fats. Fresh, home-cooked meals are always better.

Q5. Are non-vegetarian foods safe in a diet for heart disease patients?

Yes, lean meat, chicken, and fish can be included in a diet for heart disease patients, but intake should be limited to two small servings per day.

Q6. Why is portion control vital in a heart disease food diet?

Smaller, frequent meals in a cardiac diet reduce heart workload, help manage cholesterol, and improve blood pressure and blood sugar control.

Q7. What are the benefits of following a South Indian diet for heart patients?

It lowers cholesterol, supports healthy blood pressure, reduces the risk of heart disease, and offers a wholesome diet for CVD patients while keeping tasty meals.

Kauvery Hospital is globally known for its multidisciplinary services at all its Centers of Excellence, and for its comprehensive, Avant-Grade technology, especially in diagnostics and remedial care in heart diseases, transplantation, vascular and neurosciences medicine. Located in the heart of Trichy (Tennur, Royal Road and Alexandria Road (Cantonment), Chennai, Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli and Bengaluru, the hospital also renders adult and pediatric trauma care.

Chennai – 044 4000 6000 • Trichy – Cantonment – 0431 4077777 • Trichy – Heartcity – 0431 4003500 • Trichy – Tennur – 0431 4022555 • Hosur – 04344 272727 • Salem – 0427 2677777 • Tirunelveli – 0462 4006000 • Bengaluru – 080 6801 6801

Updated on 05^th Sep 2025