Healthy eating principles rely on eating a combination of foods and not relying on one sole type of food or nutrient or functional food. Adopting healthy eating patterns for all the family is sustainable if changes are made gradually. The style of eating helps to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality by reducing blood lipids and high blood pressure in those with FH. Overall, the dietary principles focus on a dietary intake that is naturally low in saturated and trans fats, salt and added sugar and rich in unsaturated fatty acids (monounsaturated, omega-3 polyunsaturated, and longer chain omega-6 polyunsaturated), along with wholegrains, fibre, and antioxidants. Using herbs and spices to flavour foods instead of salt and reducing excessive use of added sugar are excellent adaptations as well.

Most importantly for all the family is using and eating fatty acids from a range of foods which are monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. Avoidance of high saturated fats (some examples are fatty meats, fried foods, full cream dairy products and butters) and trans fats (some examples are commercially available cakes, pastries and fast foods) is vital for a healthy heart. Healthy fats can be found in nuts, seeds, avocados, olives and their oils for cooking. Longer chain fatty acids are found in oily fish and other seafoods and aiming to eat this protein up to two times per week and on other days eating other lean proteins such as eggs, chicken, pork, lean red meat and legumes (beans and lentils).  For a higher fibre diet include vegetables and salads at each meal and eat whole fruit each day. Wholegrains such as breads and cereals will give you that additional fibre a long with increasing healthy gut flora. Dairy foods are high in calcium and choosing reduced fat dairy will ensure less saturated fat is eaten.  Drinking one cup of heart active milk and having 2 teaspoons of plant sterol enriched spread per day will give the therapeutic amount of plant sterols required to help lower lipid levels. Plant sterols are cholesterol-like substances that occur naturally in fruits, vegetables, nuts and cereals in small amounts and when added to the milk and spreads act like a functional food.  

Eating this way along with families eating together and enjoying food and company can help to improve the heart health of all Australians, and particularly those with FH by reducing risk factors, such as high blood pressure and blood lipids and decreasing the risk of cardiovascular events and mortality.