Diet: Guidelines and Recommendations for Improving Cardiovascular Health

Summary

Healthy eating patterns are associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and hypertension. In this document, the reader will find summaries of several sets of evidence-based recommendations for managing their cardiovascular health through dietary changes.

Dietary guidelines for the general public have been issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services, the American Heart Association, and the American Cancer Society. These guidelines agree in recommending a diet that includes a variety of fruit, vegetables, and grain products, is low in saturated fat and cholesterol and moderate in total fat, and balances calories with physical activity to maintain a healthy weight. Updated May 2025.