A 68-year-old female patient with a history of cardiovascular disease is in for a routine follow-up. She states that she recently read about diets that could help manage her condition and is seeking advice. Having a good understanding of her condition and the impact of diet on cardiovascular health, which of the following dietary recommendations is most appropriate to suggest?
Start the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, which promotes heart health by lowering sodium and increasing nutrient-rich foods that can lower blood pressure.
Start using olive oil for frying instead of butter or lard to reduce saturated fat intake, thus managing cardiovascular health risks.
Switch to a low-carbohydrate diet to minimize blood sugar spikes and reduce the glycemic load, which primarily benefits people with diabetes more than cardiovascular disease.
Begin a gluten-free diet, as it is essential for cardiovascular health by removing gluten that can cause inflammation and contribute to heart disease.