Cardiac means relating to the heart, from the Greek kardia. The term covers the organ’s anatomy, its function as a muscular pump, and diseases affecting it. In nutrition, cardiac health is a central concern: dietary patterns rich in vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and unsaturated fats support healthy blood pressure and cholesterol, while excess sodium, saturated fat, trans fat, and alcohol raise cardiovascular risk. Cardiac output, cardiac muscle, and cardiac rehabilitation all build on the same root. Understanding the term is basic to reading food labels and health claims, where heart-health messaging is among the most common.