Food restraintespecially to those who have fasted for 40 days and to heart patients, recommends the Hellenic Cardiology Society (EKE) in view of the festive tables.

The Easter table, despite its deliciousness, poses many risks for healthy and sick people. Heart patients are a high-risk group, which is why the Hellenic Cardiology Society is sounding the alarm about their dietary choices, which must be particularly careful and prudent.

“What they need to know -especially heart patients- is that the overconsumption of fat and salt can contribute to the occurrence of a pulmonary embolism, two to three days later, for this reason it is very important in the event that they experience shortness of breath or excessive fluid retention, to immediately seek medical help to prevent more serious complications,” he says Giorgos Kochiadakis, Professor of Cardiology, President of the Hellenic Cardiology Society.

Goat instead of lamb

Avoiding the consumption of saturated fat is also emphasized.

The main health problem that saturated fat causes is the impact on cholesterol levels, as high consumption of saturated fat leads to an increase in bad LDL cholesterol, which can form atherosclerotic plaque in the arteries, which blocks blood flow and increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Lamb is rich in such fats so remove the skin or if possible prefer goat for your Easter meal and accompany everything with plenty of green vegetables that have an antioxidant effect, cause satiety and neutralize the thrombogenic effect of lipids.

Large accumulation of fat is even more dangerous during the night hours as it is associated with strokes and myocardial infarctions. To avoid greasy dishes, you can, shortly before sitting down at the festive table, eat a piece of fruit or a few nuts to reduce the feeling of hunger. You can also start your meal with a rich green salad or boiled vegetables that will only have a beneficial effect on your body.

Maintaining the right weight is very important especially for heart patients as obesity and abdominal fat are important risk factors. It is very important to maintain a proper balanced diet with calculated calories and to pay particular attention to the source of the calories, so that the foods consumed provide nutrients and not fat, cholesterol and harmful consequences for health, says Mr. Kochiadakis.

Dietary Guidelines:

  • Avoid “nibbling”, over the lamb. If you want to eat, sit at the table and enjoy your meal by chewing slowly to facilitate digestion and also to fill you up faster.
  • The dish that will fill you up without loading you with many calories is roast lamb or goat meat without skin and fat without a lot of potatoes, pasta and bread.
  • Accompany the meat with plenty of salad. Salads stimulate the feeling of satiety, are healthy due to their richness in fiber and nutrients and do not have many calories as long as they are simple without unhealthy and processed dressings.
  • Add virgin olive oil to your salad and food, which is rich in monounsaturated fats that have a cardioprotective effect and in phenols that are beneficial for heart function.
  • Avoid white bread which offers extra calories for no benefit. Prefer moderate consumption of wholemeal or rye breads or carob nuts.
  • Be careful with the consumption of holiday sweets such as tsourekia and calitsounias which are very high in calories and fat.
  • Do not salt your food. Lamb and other Easter dishes are usually over-salted!!! So remove the salt shaker from the table and enhance the flavor with spices and herbs such as fresh oregano and thyme. Do not accompany with processed foods such as ready-made sauces that are high in salt.
  • Be careful what you drink and do not mix different drinks such as tsipouro, raki, wine and beer. Two drinks for men and one for women is the recommended daily intake. Prefer red wine that has an antioxidant effect.
  • Drink plenty of water and non-alcoholic beverages without calories. With this “tactic” you feel the feeling of fullness in your stomach without burdening your body with meaningless ingredients that only have harmful consequences for health such as sugar and preservatives. After all, by drinking water and maintaining proper hydration, we protect our heart.
  • In short, try everything in moderation but eat healthy! Choose lean meat, salad with olive oil and avoid sweets. Eat patiently, give yourself time to be full. Do not prefer alcoholic drinks but water and do not forget the intermediate snacks which can be fruits rich in vitamins and antioxidants to avoid overeating. Maintain your weight with healthy food choices that don’t lack flavor and don’t forget to exercise even if it’s dancing around the Easter table.