Which of the following is NOT a primary component of a CVD diet?

Appeared in: BTSC Staff Nurse 31 July-2025

Explanation

A diet for cardiovascular disease (CVD) focuses on lowering risk factors like high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Including 'more sodium' is incorrect because high sodium intake causes the body to retain water, which increases blood volume and blood pressure, straining the heart and blood vessels.
Heart-healthy dietary guidelines, such as the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet, strongly recommend limiting sodium intake to below 2,300 mg per day, and often to 1,500 mg for individuals with hypertension.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Dietary management for Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a vital role in educating patients with CVD about dietary modifications. This includes teaching them how to read nutrition labels to identify sodium content and make healthier choices.
Patient counseling should emphasize that the majority of dietary sodium comes from processed, pre-packaged, and restaurant foods, not just the salt added at the table.
What if? If a patient with CVD also has chronic kidney disease (CKD), dietary education becomes more complex. The nurse would need to collaborate with a dietitian to create a plan that balances sodium restrictions with potential potassium and phosphorus limits required for renal health.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the negative keyword 'NOT' in the question stem. This signals that you must find the option that is inconsistent with the principles of a CVD diet.
Recall the main goals of a CVD diet: to lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol, and maintain a healthy weight.
Evaluate each option based on these goals. Ask yourself, 'Does this food component help or harm the heart?'
Lean protein, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are all well-established as beneficial for heart health.
Recognize that high sodium intake is a primary driver of hypertension, a major risk factor for CVD. Therefore, a diet that includes 'more sodium' is directly contrary to the goals.
Select the option that contradicts the established dietary recommendations for cardiovascular health.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Dietary management for Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)
Stem keywords: CVD diet, primary component
Lead-in keywords: NOT
Negative lead-in flag: The question asks to identify the item that is NOT a component of a heart-healthy diet.

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E6 Textbook of Biochemistry for medical StudentsDM Vasudevan Part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-239 of 478) p. 199-201

E6 Nutrition Kumud Khanna 2e p. 321-323

E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 1 p. 51-53

Practise the full BTSC Staff Nurse 31 July-2025

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.