Include vitamin B1 in your diet to support your cardiovascular system. Thiamine, which is commonly referred to as vitamin B1, plays an important role in nerve function. Thiamine deficiency leads to cardiovascular and nervous system problems. Wet beriberi, a condition caused by thiamine deficiency, can result in an enlarged heart, edema, and heart failure. Because of this, it is important to include vitamin B1 foods in your diet to keep your heart healthy.[2] X Research source Foods rich in vitamin B1 include: Beans Cauliflower Asparagus Broccoli Tomatoes Spinach Cereals Brussels sprouts Nuts Lentils Lean meat Eat more potassium-rich foods to regulate your heartbeat. Potassium plays a role in keeping your heart healthy. Potassium helps to regulate your heartbeat and helps with the contraction of your heart muscle. If you have high blood pressure or heart failure, conditions that can lead to an enlarged heart, you should increase your potassium intake.[3] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public Go to source Foods rich in potassium include: Tomatoes Potatoes Bananas Dried fruits Spinach Avocados Lower your sodium intake to

prevent fluid retention. Edema, one of the major causes of heart enlargement, may occur because of excess amounts of sodium in your blood. Excess sodium can cause breathing problems and can cause your heart to work harder. Try to eat homemade foods, as it is easier to keep track of the amount of sodium you eat at home than it is at restaurants or when eating pre-packaged foods.[4] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source Some low-sodium foods include: Fresh vegetables and fruits Fresh corn Fresh meat Eggs Oatmeal (not instant) Dried fruits Limit your fat intake to help control your cholesterol. Your blood cholesterol level can go up when you eat a lot of trans fats and saturated fats. Moreover, excess dietary fat is one of the major reasons for obesity, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, all of which play a role in the enlarging of your heart. Limit your saturated fat consumption to no more than 5-6% of your total daily calories, and try to avoid trans fats altogether.[5] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source Fatty foods to avoid include:

All fried foods, particularly deep fried foods Fast foods Packaged foods Processed foods Sweets, breads, and pasta Add healthy fats to your diet to raise your good cholesterol. While saturated fats and trans fats (like those found in high-fat dairy products, processed meats, and fried foods) are bad for your heart, some types of dietary fat can boost your good cholesterol and improve your heart health. Good sources of heart-healthy fats include:[6] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source Vegetable and nut oils, such as olive oil, canola oil, and sesame oil Fatty fish, such as tuna and mackerel Avocados Nuts and seeds, including almonds, walnuts, and freshly ground flaxseeds Trans fat-free margarine (look for soft or liquid margarine rather than stick margarine)[7] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source Include turmeric in your cooking to prevent an enlarged heart. Turmeric contains curcumin, which can help prevent heart failure. It also decreases your cholesterol and triglyceride levels while increasing your good cholesterol levels. Turmeric has

yet another secret weapon to fight heart enlargement: polyphenol. Polyphenol can help to prevent and treat an enlarged heart.[8] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Take 1/2 teaspoon (1.15 g) of black pepper and crush it. Add ? teaspoon (1 g) of turmeric powder to the crushed black pepper and mix well. Add this mixture to a meal or snack 3 times a day. You can also add a pinch of turmeric to each of your meals. Eat raw garlic every day to help manage your blood pressure. Allicin, which is found in garlic, may help to lower blood pressure.[9] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source When your blood flow runs more smoothly, you have a higher chance of reducing your heart to its normal size. Allicin also helps to prevent the production of bad cholesterol and aids in producing good cholesterol, which helps to improve heart health.[10] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Eat 2 raw garlic cloves a day. Include garlic regularly in your food as well. If you don’t like raw garlic, you can

take garlic supplements. However, garlic supplements can interact negatively with certain medications, so speak to your doctor and read the label carefully before taking a garlic supplement. Drink plenty of green tea for good heart health. Green tea is rich in antioxidants, which help to increase good cholesterol, prevent oxidation of bad cholesterol and aid in improving the function of arteries. Thus green tea can help to fight heart conditions.[11] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public Go to source Add ? teaspoon (0.165 g) of green leaves to a cup (237 ml) of boiling water. Switch off the stove and allow the tea to sit for 3 minutes before you filter and drink. Drink up to 3 cups (710 ml) of green tea a day. Increase your asparagus consumption for heart-helping nutrients. This natural diuretic contains neither fat nor cholesterol. It also does not contain sodium, which can lead to edema, one of the major causes of heart enlargement. Asparagus is an excellent source of heart-healthy fiber and vitamins and minerals, such as folate, vitamin K, and iron.[12] X Research source You can eat asparagus or drink asparagus

juice. To help the flavor of the juice, you can mix in some honey. Use more cayenne pepper to help keep your heart pumping. Cayenne pepper is a rich source of vitamin C, which is essential for collagen synthesis. Collagen, which is a structural protein, helps to maintain the integrity of internal organs, blood vessels, skin and bones. Cayenne peppers also contain selenium, an antioxidant that can help your heart to operate smoothly.[13] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Add ? teaspoon (0.45 g) of cayenne pepper to 1 cup (237 ml) of water and mix well. Drink 2 cups (473 ml) a day. Quit smoking if you do. Chemicals present in tobacco damage your blood cells and affect the functioning of your heart and blood vessels. Such damages result in atherosclerosis, a condition in which plaque builds up in your arteries. With time, the plaque hardens, narrowing your arteries and limiting blood flow to your organs.[14] X Trustworthy Source National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Research and education center within the National Institutes of Health Go to source If you’re not sure how to quit, talk to your doctor. They

may be able to offer practical advice or prescribe medications to help you quit, if necessary. If you are living in the U.S., you can call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) for advice and access to resources to help you quit smoking.[15] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source Reduce your alcohol consumption to manage your blood pressure. Alcohol can increase your blood pressure, which means that drinking alcohol often can increase your risk of developing heart conditions like an enlarged heart.[16] X Research source If you have a hard time resisting the urge to drink, talk to your doctor about programs you can enroll in. Exercise for 30 minutes daily if your doctor approves it. Talk to your doctor before changing up your exercise regimen, given your heart condition. When you get the green light to exercise, try to exercise for a short period of time each day. Getting exercise can help your body to become stronger and more healthy.[17] X Research source For instance, you could go for a brisk walk, do water aerobics, do low impact aerobics, or try line dancing.

Exercising is particularly important if you are overweight, as being obese can lead to heart enlargement. Lose excess weight if your doctor recommends it. Being obese can lead to heart enlargement. Excessive weight thickens the heart muscle in your left ventricle. This condition can lead to various heart conditions. To lose weight, you will have to develop a healthy diet and an exercise regimen.[18] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source The healthiest way to lose weight is through a combination of good diet and exercise. Talk to your doctor about the safest way to lose weight with your heart condition. Reduce your stress levels to support your overall health. When you are stressed, your body can be seriously affected. When you have an enlarged heart, try to minimize your stress levels as much as possible. This includes mental and emotional stress.[19] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source To lower your stress levels: Practice breathing techniques. Try doing yoga. Try meditating, even if it’s just a few minutes every day. Engage in relaxing

hobbies that you enjoy, such as reading, gardening, arts and crafts, or going for walks outdoors. Talk to your doctor if you’re worried you have an enlarged heart. In the early stages, you probably won’t notice any symptoms. However, this is the best time to get treatment. See your doctor if you’re worried that you may have an enlarged heart so that you can take steps to improve your health. It’s a good idea to talk to them if you have the following risk factors:[20] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source High blood pressure Family history of heart disease or heart enlargement Cardiac conditions Anemia Obesity Thyroid disorders Viral infections Abuse of alcohol and drugs, especially cocaine Kidney disease Pregnancy complications Certain genetic disorders HIV See your doctor immediately if you have symptoms of an enlarged heart. If you start to notice symptoms of an enlarged heart, it may be getting worse. While you probably don’t need to worry, you should get checked by your doctor to make sure you’re okay and get treatment if it’s necessary. Visit your doctor if you have the following symptoms:[21]

X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source Shortness of breath Fast or slow heart rhythm Swelling (edema) Water weight gain from swelling Chest discomfort Ask your doctor about additional treatments if you’re having symptoms. Your doctor will likely do a physical exam, imaging tests, a stress test, and a blood test to confirm your diagnosis. Then, they’ll explain your treatment options. Work with your doctor to create a treatment plan that works for you. If your doctor prescribes medication, take it exactly as directed. They may prescribe the following:[22] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source Diuretics to decrease fluid volume and take pressure off your heart. ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) to lower your blood pressure and help your heart pump more efficiently. Beta blockers to lower your blood pressure and help your heart. Anticoagulants to prevent blood clots. Antiarrhythmics to keep your heartbeat steady. An implantable defibrillator, which is an electrical device similar to a pacemaker, designed to regulate your

heartbeat and help the heart restart if it stops beating.[23] X Trustworthy Source National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Research and education center within the National Institutes of Health Go to source Get emergency care for symptoms of a heart attack. Sometimes an enlarged heart can lead to a heart attack. Try not to worry because your symptoms may be caused by something else. However, you need to get immediate treatment to help you recover. Go to an emergency room or call for help if you have the following symptoms:[24] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source Chest pain or pressure Pain that spreads to your jaw, neck, shoulder, arm, back, or stomach Shortness of breath Feeling faint Talk to your doctor before changing your exercise routine. It’s always important to consult your doctor before beginning a new exercise routine, but it’s even more important when you have heart issues. Tell your doctor that you want to start exercising to improve your heart health. Then, ask them which exercises are safe for you and if there are any you should avoid.[25] X Research source It’s possible that too much

exercise can strain your heart, so follow the pace set by your doctor. If you start to feel like your exercise routine isn’t challenging, tell your doctor that you think you’re ready to try something new.