Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a condition that develops when the arteries used to supply blood to the internal organs, arms and legs become completely or partially blocked as a result of fatty deposits (atherosclerosis). PAD most commonly impacts your legs and feet. Some symptoms include leg numbness or weakness, and coldness in your lower leg or foot.
A diabetes diagnosis puts you at a higher risk of developing PAD. Diabetes is a chronic condition that impacts the lining of the cells in your blood, prohibiting blood from flowing smoothly.
A balanced diet can lower your risk for PAD
Anand Tarpara, MD, vascular surgeon at HonorHealth Vascular Group, shares five tips on how you can maintain a balanced diet to lower your risk for PAD and chronic diseases.
“Disease prevention is very important,” says Dr. Tarpara. “By making small changes to your diet you can play a key role in lowering your risk for PAD and other chronic conditions. As a vascular surgeon, I find it’s important to share these prevention tips with my patients and I also use them myself.”
Five ways to achieve a balanced diet:
- Swap out processed oils (also known as vegetable oils) with healthier options such as olive, avocado or coconut oils.
- Cut down on processed foods with high levels of salt, sugar and fat.
- Eat more lean meats, fruits and vegetables.
- Read nutrition labels. These labels can tell you a lot about your food including where it came from, how much salt or sugar is in your food and the type of oils used. Nutrition labels can help you make the right choices.
- Choose recipes with dietary fibers from vegetables, healthy fat and protein.
Additional risk factors for PAD:
- Current smoking or smoking history.
- Age – especially if you’re older than 50.
- High cholesterol.
- High blood pressure.
- History of heart disease.
- Obesity – generally defined as a body mass index (BMI) over 30.
