Patients with heart failure and patients who will begin outpatient cardiac rehabilitation should receive a consultation with the dietician.

All heart failure patients normally receive dietary advice from heart failure nurses and their doctor. If this is not possible or if there are more specific questions, this can be supplemented by practical, targeted advice from a dietitian.

Among the dietary topics covered, particular attention will be paid to:

• Relative water restriction (up to a maximum of 1.5 to 2 liters per day, sometimes stricter on indication): “Drink according to thirst”.
• Low salt diet.
• Healthy general diet and a low fat and cholesterol free diet.
• If necessary:
  • Calorie restriction (when weight loss is necessary).
  • Low potassium diet in cases of hyperkalemia and/or severe renal failure.
  • Low fat/cholesterol diet (for secondary cardiovascular prevention, ...).
  • Diabetic diet (for diabetes mellitus).