How can I tell if a food is really heart healthy?

A high-fat, high-cholesterol diet causes your body to produce more cholesterol. Too much cholesterol can cause formation of fatty deposits. The fatty deposits may cause a narrowing or block of the blood vessels. If an artery is blocked, a heart attack can occur.

To make your diet more heart healthy, avoid foods high in fat and cholesterol, such as fried foods, animal fat, butter, organ meats, whole milk products, egg yolks, cream sauces and full-fat cheese, and substitute with lower fat milk, cheeses, egg whites and healthier oils, such as olive and canola.

Other tips include:

• Read nutrition labels to determine fat amounts.
• Eat plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
• Limit total fat intake to less than 30% of calories.
• Limit saturated fat intake to less than 10% of calories.
• Limit dietary cholesterol to less than 300 mg per day.