WEIGHT MANAGEMENT SERVICE
ESTABLISHED 2017
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Coronary Heart Disease Diet
For high cholesterol with coronary artery disease (CAD), diet becomes a major part of reducing future heart attack and stroke risk alongside your prescribed medicines (such as statins).
The main goals are to lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, reduce inflammation, and help prevent further plaque buildup in the arteries. Current guidance strongly supports a Mediterranean-style eating pattern for CAD.
What to eat more of
These foods have the strongest evidence for helping LDL and heart health:
1) Soluble fiber (very important)
Soluble fiber helps remove cholesterol from the body.
Best choices:
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oats / oatmeal
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barley
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beans, lentils, chickpeas
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apples, berries, citrus fruits
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ground flaxseed / chia
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vegetables like okra and aubergine (eggplant)
Aim for 25–30 g total fiber daily, with plenty coming from these foods.
2) Healthy fats instead of saturated fats
Replace butter and fatty meats with:
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olive oil
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avocado
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walnuts, almonds, pistachios
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seeds
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peanut or almond butter (unsweetened)
This swap helps lower LDL significantly.
3) Oily fish (2 times weekly)
Especially:
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salmon
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sardines
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mackerel
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trout
These help triglycerides and inflammation.
4) Plant proteins
Try replacing some meat meals with:
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lentils
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beans
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tofu
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soy milk
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edamame
Soy and legumes are especially helpful for cholesterol.
What to reduce / avoid
These are the main foods that worsen CAD risk:
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processed meats → bacon, sausage, salami
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fatty red meat
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butter, cream, ghee
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cheese in large amounts
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fried fast food
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pastries, doughnuts, cakes
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coconut oil / palm oil
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crisps and packaged snacks
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high-salt ready meals
Very practical daily plan
Breakfast: oatmeal + berries + walnuts
Lunch: lentil salad with olive oil + wholegrain bread
Dinner: grilled salmon + brown rice + vegetables
Snack: apple + almonds
Important medical note
If you already have CAD, diet alone is usually not enough to replace medication.
Please continue any statin / ezetimibe / other cholesterol medicines exactly as prescribed, because these directly reduce plaque risk.
7 Day Plan
7-Day Meal Plan for Lowering LDL & Supporting CAD
Day 1
Breakfast:
Oatmeal with blueberries, strawberries, and walnuts
Lunch:
Lentil soup + wholegrain toast + side salad with olive oil
Dinner:
Grilled salmon + brown rice + steamed broccoli
Snack:
Apple + 10–15 almonds
Day 2
Breakfast:
Greek yogurt (low-fat, unsweetened) + berries + chia seeds
Lunch:
Wholegrain wrap with hummus, cucumber, tomato, spinach, and grilled chicken
Dinner:
Bean chili with mixed vegetables over brown rice
Snack:
Carrot sticks + hummus
Day 3
Breakfast:
Wholegrain toast + avocado + sliced tomato
Lunch:
Chickpea salad with olive oil, cucumber, peppers, and lemon dressing
Dinner:
Baked trout or sardines + quinoa + roasted vegetables
Snack:
Pear + walnuts
Day 4
Breakfast:
Porridge oats + banana slices + flaxseed
Lunch:
Tuna and white bean salad with mixed greens
Dinner:
Skinless chicken breast + sweet potato + green beans
Snack:
Plain yogurt + berries
Day 5
Breakfast:
Overnight oats with chia, oats, berries, and almond milk
Lunch:
Vegetable and barley soup + wholegrain bread
Dinner:
Wholewheat pasta with tomato sauce, olive oil, spinach, and lentils
Snack:
Orange + pistachios
Day 6
Breakfast:
Vegetable omelette + wholegrain toast
Lunch:
Quinoa salad with chickpeas, avocado, and vegetables
Dinner:
Grilled salmon + asparagus + brown rice
Snack:
Apple slices + peanut butter (unsweetened)
Day 7
Breakfast:
Oatmeal + chopped apple + cinnamon + walnuts
Lunch:
Sardines on wholegrain toast + tomato salad
Dinner:
Chicken and chickpea curry with vegetables + brown rice
Snack:
Fruit + a small handful of nuts
Key cholesterol-lowering foods built into this plan
This plan intentionally includes:
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oats / barley → soluble fiber
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beans, lentils, chickpeas → fiber + plant protein
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salmon / sardines / trout → omega-3 fats
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olive oil, avocado, nuts → healthy fats
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minimal butter, cheese, red meat, processed foods
Important tip
If you’re taking a statin, this meal plan works with the medication and can help improve LDL further over 6–12 weeks.
A repeat cholesterol blood test is often useful after about 3 months of consistent changes.