What's the connection between diet and heart failure?

For those at risk for heart failure (stage A), plant-based diets such as the Mediterranean diet and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet — which emphasize the intake of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes — can help prevent the development of heart failure. Also, following a diet with reduced salt (sodium) intake can help to prevent the development of heart failure in those at risk, and may reduce mortality in people with stages B–D heart failure.^[1][2]