CVD is any illness that affects the heart and blood vessels. A healthy diet can minimize the risk of CVD conditions such as hypertension and atherosclerosis (blocked arteries), as well as heart attacks, strokes, heart failure and kidney disease. Choose monosaturated fats (like olive oil and avocado) and polyunsaturated fats (like canola oil and nuts) over trans-fat and saturated fat. Omega-3 fatty acids are encouraged, which are found in fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel and tuna. Limit sodium intake to 1,500-2,300 mg per day. When evaluating a food label on packaged foods, use the 5%-20% rule of thumb: 5% or less is low, and 20% or more is high. Keep sodium and saturated fat low, and vitamins, minerals and fiber high